: thrown into or being in a state of fear, fright, or panic
scared of snakes
scared to go out

Examples of scared in a Sentence

I am really scared about speaking in front of the class. He was scared that his mother wouldn't let him go to the movies with his friends. She's scared to walk alone at night.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That evening, in the no man’s land, a field strewn with empty water bottles, four Shia families sat on a picnic blanket around a burner attached to a gas tank, looking scared and drinking yerba mate. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2024 Once glued to their hiding spot, a scared cat may not come out when called by its owner. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024 This whole interaction — the way Paul isn’t exactly scared to hand over an envelope with less than $80,000, the way Mikey is dismayed to learn that Lydia sold her piano — still screams to me that there is some type of personal relationship between these two guys. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024 Most Republicans feel hopeful (91%), relieved (90%), or excited (86%), while most Democrats are scared (77%), angry (69%), or depressed (68%). Victoria Balara, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for scared 

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scared was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near scared

Cite this Entry

“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scared. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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