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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scary
What other elements were key to bringing this scary world of mercenaries to life?
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The weed can induce psychosis and send people into bad, almost psychedelic trips that are scary.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The news is a scary sign for the consumer electronics industry.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
For some political leaders, there’s nothing scarier than the possibility of sharing a public restroom with a woman who was born a man.
—Zachary Bernstein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scary
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
The weed can induce psychosis and send people into bad, almost psychedelic trips that are scary.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The news is a scary sign for the consumer electronics industry.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
For some political leaders, there’s nothing scarier than the possibility of sharing a public restroom with a woman who was born a man.
—Zachary Bernstein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scary
Adjective
-
The terrifying cadence of airstrikes shapes daily life in Tehran.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Their smaller counterparts, alpacas, are more timid and shy, but the more independent ones that aren't afraid to be away from the herd do well as therapy animals.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Jerusalem, timid about the prospect of a land invasion, can only respond with more airstrikes until the regime hits its breaking point and the people rise up.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Camarillo, a substitute teacher, is also scared for her students.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
-
When people are scared to see their primary doctor for routine care like asthma check-ups with inhaler refills, illnesses advance and require more intense healthcare utilization.—
Dr. Lauren Palladino,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The findings are stark, even frightening.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
-
During one frightening allergic reaction, her child’s body erupts in hives and her breathing becomes labored, sending the family rushing to emergency care.—
Rhoda Feng,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The measure passed the Senate 89-10 but now faces a challenging path in the House of Representatives, where Republicans, who have the majority, are fearful of being forced into a bad deal.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Singh, however, argued that Jones was not coerced but fearful of the consequences.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The problem, at its core, is that people have been afraid to leave their homes to go to work as a result of the ICE surge.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, some staff members, other career officials say, are afraid to voice dissenting views for fear of being fired.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yahoo will be competing against a familiar foil in Google, which remains the same formidable force that spelled the company's demise 20 years ago and has been progressively layering more AI into its search engine with its Gemini technology.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Then finding the players who can execute them has made UConn the sport’s most formidable force.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Chesney became frightened, scaled the enclosure wall and hopped over the fence.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Scared and frightened, the only way to relieve the pain is to sell.—
,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scary. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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