as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
at the sight of the grizzly bear he froze, being too scared to even run away
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in frightened
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scared
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025
And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable.
—Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
Some activists are also concerned that those who have always stood with the LGBTQ+ community could be too scared to speak up under Trump’s new administration.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
Read Next Florida Shelter thought dog was scared — but something else was wrong.
—Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for scared 
Adjective
When people are feeling anxious, scared, or angry, the principles of tapping theorize that the practice calms the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls those emotions.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025
And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable.
—Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
Some activists are also concerned that those who have always stood with the LGBTQ+ community could be too scared to speak up under Trump’s new administration.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 24 Jan. 2025
Read Next Florida Shelter thought dog was scared — but something else was wrong.
—Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for scared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scared
Adjective
-
Democrats and Republicans are afraid that their civil rights and their civil liberties are in jeopardy and look to the courts to protect their 14th and 15th Amendment rights.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Just look at the Salem Witch Trials, which targeted people who weren’t afraid to live somewhat unconventional lives, like women who were financially-independent or unmarried.—
Roya Backlund,
StyleCaster,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Growers reported a drop in workers showing up to their jobs, and advocacy groups saw a surge of frightened families show up to legal workshops on how to protect themselves against deportation.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
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When Julia arrived with a can of cat food, the first kitten had already been adopted, but the second—a frightened and feisty tabby—was still there.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The movie sees the revival of arch-villain Feathers McGraw, who terrified kids in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 2024
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My Hugo would chase it and bark at it, or he'd be terrified.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Many fans online seemed shocked and bewildered by her post asking for another natural disaster.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
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Bryan Kirkwood, a security guard hired to protect homes from looters, was shocked to see the home torn apart.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
America under Trump’s second presidency is fearful for its borders and the potential terrorists that might be coming in through them.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
24 Jan. 2025
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Trump has grasped the strength of this leverage in a way the Biden Administration, which was fearful of sparking global inflation through tougher sanctions, did not.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While that’s what his voters bought, institutions are pushing back mightily, in some cases with the backing of an alarmed public.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
29 Jan. 2025
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His innie shares a vast, mostly empty office with three colleagues: the paternal old-timer Irving (John Turturro), the faux curmudgeon Dylan (Zach Cherry), and the alarmed newbie Helly (Britt Lower).—
Inkoo Kang,
The New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near scared
Cite this Entry
“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scared. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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