1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scared
filled with fear or dread
I got a little scary when I heard the noise in the basement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
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a scary movie
a scary thought
a terrifying thought
a horrifying thought
a frightening thought
a chilling thought
a horrible thought
scary stories
a scary time
a scary situation
a terrifying situation
a dangerous situation
a frightening situation
a bad situation
a crazy situation
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of scary
James Van Der Beek has colorectal cancer – a shocking, scary diagnosis for anyone.
—
David Oliver, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle exited the game after suffering an apparently scary ankle injury.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Alex ended up falling in love, which was much harder and scarier for him in many ways.
—Thomas Page, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
The fact that people are paying attention is really cool, exciting and a little scary.
—Maxwell Millington, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scary 
David Oliver, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle exited the game after suffering an apparently scary ankle injury.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Alex ended up falling in love, which was much harder and scarier for him in many ways.
—Thomas Page, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
The fact that people are paying attention is really cool, exciting and a little scary.
—Maxwell Millington, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scary
Adjective
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Winters — who was so terrifying in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and who revealed a messy vulnerability behind Kerry Castellabate’s hard bangs and structured suits on Succession — is a pro at tough, slick surfaces with tangles of insecurity underneath.Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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Perusing the store’s shelves, there’s the usual lineup of Route 66 merch alongside a host of shirts bearing new and terrifying puns.Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The video, which has been viewed more than 1.4 million times to date, shows the golden retriever offering the timid stray their favorite toy.Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
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Black bears are generally timid and more likely to avoid humans, while grizzly bears are known to be more territorial and larger in size.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Two of the biggest forces in all of Hollywood are joining forces, and everyone should be scared.Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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Most on each side are scared, not just concerned, if the other side wins, and while most voters express confidence this election is being conducted fairly and accurately, Harris voters are more confident than Trump voters are.Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Demi Moore is sharing scary photos of a frightening side of her character in the body horror movie The Substance.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The research provides a counterbalance to the rhetoric that employees are fearful of new AI tools replacing them and keen not to see their employers adopt the technology.Alena Botros, Fortune Europe, 1 Nov. 2024
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The collapse of social and economic order in Myanmar is watched carefully by its neighbors, fearful that instability will spill over.Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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By its conception, AI does not make mistakes, does not take bribes and is not afraid of anything.Oleksandr Sheremeta, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Many Americans are afraid of what the aftermath of the election could bring.Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Jones, who died on Sunday night at 91 in Los Angeles, had already been a formidable impresario in music and TV for decades before pairing up with Jackson, a former child prodigy struggling with his pivot into adulthood.Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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James Giordano, a neurobiology researcher at Georgetown University Medical Center, says getting frightened triggers a specific response in the human body.Jennifer Stavros, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
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Affected businesses can lose money or go bankrupt, because frightened customers choose to dine elsewhere.Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near scary
Cite this Entry
“Scary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scary. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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