as in frightened
filled with fear or dread
Ichabod Crane was so spooked that he left Sleepy Hollow for good
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scared
to strike with fear
the sudden noise spooked her out of her skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of spooked
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024
The points deductions given to Everton and Nottingham Forest last season seem to have also spooked clubs into being extra cautious around PSR.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Some comments under the video show viewers spooked by the scene, weighing in on whether the leg movement was a result of some kind of paranormal intervention or not.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
This post was originally published on December 20 Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
But he’s also promised to shake up the country’s food and drug industries, promoting healthy lifestyles and disrupting corporate forces driving obesity, addiction and other illnesses — a platform that has broad political appeal but has spooked markets.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Centrist politicians across Europe have toughened their migration policies in recent months, spooked by the electoral success of charismatic right-wing and anti-migrant leaders.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
But the deer had spooked (likely from the sound of the ATV, Laleman thinks).
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
Thus, there’s little sense in getting spooked in the pre-Christmas months; when ad rates are negligible, the cost of doling out any necessary audience deficiency units isn’t exactly going to break the bank.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024
The points deductions given to Everton and Nottingham Forest last season seem to have also spooked clubs into being extra cautious around PSR.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Some comments under the video show viewers spooked by the scene, weighing in on whether the leg movement was a result of some kind of paranormal intervention or not.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
This post was originally published on December 20 Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Bitcoin has fallen sharply, dropping along with stock markets after the Federal Reserve warned inflation remained sticky and BlackRock spooked the market.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
But he’s also promised to shake up the country’s food and drug industries, promoting healthy lifestyles and disrupting corporate forces driving obesity, addiction and other illnesses — a platform that has broad political appeal but has spooked markets.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Centrist politicians across Europe have toughened their migration policies in recent months, spooked by the electoral success of charismatic right-wing and anti-migrant leaders.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
But the deer had spooked (likely from the sound of the ATV, Laleman thinks).
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spooked
Adjective
-
Horses are naturally skittish animals that can easily become frightened and bolt.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
27 May 2025
-
Footage from the immediate aftermath captured mothers and fathers clutching children on their hips, running through the mist of water dousing the flames, while frightened dogs scrambled alongside them.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Plus, hearing from the new owners, those dogs have also been scared and skittish around humans.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
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While gold is a popular choice when investors are scared, other alternatives such as infrastructure and real estate offer similar protection.—
Eric Satz,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
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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Moreover, Rocket has a relatively new CEO who wants to dominate the mortgage industry and is not afraid of technology, previously working at Intuit, PayPal, Groupon and Microsoft.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
24 May 2025
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The youngest cast member at the time, Williams set the tone for the raw emotion the show was not afraid to show over the years.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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The Trump administration’s unprecedented action against Harvard is not the only reason why international college students have become alarmed about their future in the United States.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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But even legal scholars with an expansive view of executive authority have grown alarmed.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While guest hosting Today with Jenna & Friends on Tuesday, May 20, Guthrie, 53, shared that her son Charley, 8, asked her not to come to his school's party, leaving her good friend Jenna Bush Hager, 43, shocked.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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So when Green’s ex reached out, unprompted, Green was shocked.—
Megan Farokhmanesh,
Wired News,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spooked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spooked. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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