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
While a scary and unforgettable moment, she is left with stiffness and soreness.
—
Terell Bailey, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Any realistic future, extrapolated from the present, will be a scary one, reflecting back to us our own warranted, present-tense vigilance.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The world feels quite scary and negative and harsh.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Having a new child is sometimes scary.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scary
Terell Bailey, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Any realistic future, extrapolated from the present, will be a scary one, reflecting back to us our own warranted, present-tense vigilance.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
The world feels quite scary and negative and harsh.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
Having a new child is sometimes scary.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for scary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scary
Adjective
-
For most people, the idea of ceding control to a robot is out there at best; downright terrifying at worst.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
One of those terrifying moments happened on a public stairwell.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
That bill is a direct response to a Supreme Court that handed the executive branch a dangerous blank check and a Congress too timid to push back.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Who wants to follow a timid leader, right?—
Aditya Simha,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Most of their clients were too scared to speak publicly, citing fear of retaliation.—
Shoshana Walter,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Originally scared of cats, Cox fell in love with a pair of Scottish Folds his wife bought.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Such obsession can be a frightening emotion both for the person experiencing it and for the target.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
As local officers have gotten more involved in anti-immigration efforts, some communities have become increasingly fearful of the police.—
Shoshana Walter,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Julia Louis-Dreyfus provides the voice of Miss Maple, renamed Lily and far more fretful and fearful than in the book.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, a boy named Henry, who also had to evacuate, is afraid of dogs.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is not afraid of the summer heat.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last month, despite Orbán’s formidable, long-standing attempts to rig the legal and electoral systems in his favor, Magyar won, in a stunning upset.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Stockton, who formed a formidable tandem with fellow Jazz superstar Karl Malone, is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The woman who found Nado said the feline appeared frightened but was in overall good health, according to the news outlet.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Those children hadn’t seemed frightened to me, not visibly anyway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scary. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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