as in frightening
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scaring
Plus, nobody will careen past you at 110 mph, scaring you spitless.
—
Allen Best, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
And with it almost out in the world, that’s scaring him a little bit.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
During the first phase, last spring, before DHS got the infusion of new money, Noem led a shock-and-awe campaign aimed mostly at scaring people into leaving.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
At the time, local hunters blamed the Ping for scaring away game.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Send other things that are going to help improve the livelihood of everyday Memphians, instead of just scaring them back into the house.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
In a story translated from Korean, a ghost aches with loneliness after scaring everyone away; in a story translated from Arabic, a midwife is called to aid with the birth of … something.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
During the Revolutionary War, George Washington ordered troops to be inoculated against smallpox, which had ravaged the Continental Army and was scaring away recruits.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Allen Best, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
And with it almost out in the world, that’s scaring him a little bit.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
During the first phase, last spring, before DHS got the infusion of new money, Noem led a shock-and-awe campaign aimed mostly at scaring people into leaving.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
At the time, local hunters blamed the Ping for scaring away game.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Send other things that are going to help improve the livelihood of everyday Memphians, instead of just scaring them back into the house.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
In a story translated from Korean, a ghost aches with loneliness after scaring everyone away; in a story translated from Arabic, a midwife is called to aid with the birth of … something.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
During the Revolutionary War, George Washington ordered troops to be inoculated against smallpox, which had ravaged the Continental Army and was scaring away recruits.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scaring
Verb
-
Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Directed by Lee Sang-min, the film stars Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jong-won as a road-view camera crew that encounters terrifying supernatural events at a remote reservoir.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Washington has run large deficits without spooking the bond market for years.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Energy policy vacillation in the US is spooking investors and leaving the country less prepared to compete in the global economy.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some cyclists sped by pretty quickly, startling us and our dog.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scaring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scaring. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
