scare

[skair] / skɛər /

NOUN

frightened state

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alarm panic shock

STRONG

alert fright start terror

Antonyms

STRONGEST

confidence security

WEAK

calmness comfort ease

VERB

frighten someone

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alarm awe daunt dismay intimidate paralyze petrify shock startle terrify terrorize

STRONG

affright chill freeze panic spook

WEAK

give a fright give a turn scare silly scare stiff scare the pants off shake up strike terror in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

assist assure calm comfort encourage expect help incite please soothe stimulate

STRONG

heat

WEAK

reassure

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Businesses struggling because customers are scared to go outside.

From Los Angeles Times

"I think they may be scared... I am scared too," the 40-year-old said, adding she was only making a fraction of her usual earnings.

From Barron's

"I was really scared but I knew I had to do something," he said.

From BBC

So there’s a TB scare on top of everything else.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I was so scared,” Ashlee told the paper, describing her early days in Santa Maria.

From Los Angeles Times