scared

Examples

• All

• She felt scared walking alone in the dark alley.

• I was scared during the thunderstorm last night.

• People are just too scared to try things.

  Ryan Pineda

• However, at this moment I was scared like a little child.

  High Performance

• It's so weird being scared and sad at the same time.

• I was too scared to let you in.

  All of Us Strangers (2023)

• Yet I was simply too scared to face what had been done to the earth.

  Academic text (1999)

• Why would I be scared?

  Bloodletting (1997)

• Families were too scared to even let their daughters out of their homes.

  Academic text (2011)

• Every time I am faced with an assessment to perform, I am scared out of my wits.

  Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

A

afraid

vsscared

∞ 1.0

Feeling fear or worry about something

is the simpler, more general way to name that emotion

W

worried

vsscared

∞ 1.0

Feeling nervous or upset about something that may go wrong

is the emotion tied to actual danger or fright rather than worry

N

nervous

vsscared

∞ 1.3

Feeling worried and easily frightened

is fear focused on danger or immediate threat rather than nerves

T

terrified

vsscared

263 2.1

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

is the standard fear term that is less intense

A

anxious

vsscared

201 2.7

Feeling worried or nervous about something that might happen

is fear tied to present danger or immediate frightening situations

F

fearful

vsscared

143 1.3

Feeling afraid or nervous and easily frightened

is the plain term for fear without implying frequent sensitivity

U

uneasy

vsscared

98 3.2

You feel worried and not relaxed

is stronger fear focused on real danger rather than unease

S

scared to death

vsscared

• Informal

84 3.2

So frightened that you cannot move or speak

is fear described without implying near-death intensity

A

apprehensive

vsscared

36 5.0

Feeling worried that something bad will happen

is the basic fearful reaction when danger is immediate rather than anticipated

P

petrified

vsscared

29 4.6

So frightened that you cannot move or think clearly

is fear in general without the extreme freezing or shock

P

panicky

vsscared

22 4.1

Feeling sudden, strong fear that makes you act without thinking

is fear generally without the extreme loss of control

S

scared shitless

vsscared

• Offensive

19 9.9

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

is the neutral fear term without vulgar emphasis

P

panicked

vsscared

16 4.6

Feeling sudden, strong fear that makes it hard to think or act calmly

is the ordinary fear feeling without that frantic response

A

alarmed

vsscared

10 2.2

Suddenly afraid or worried because you think something bad might happen

is the general word for fear without stressing sudden alarm

F

frightened

vsscared

3 1.0

Being afraid because something seems dangerous

is the common everyday word for that basic fear feeling

H

horror-stricken

vsscared

1 7.2

Feeling very shocked and afraid after seeing something frightening

is fear without the added shocked reaction to an event

S

scared spitless

vsscared

• Informal

9.7

So frightened that you cannot move or speak

is the normal fear label without the helplessness emphasis

I

intimidated

vsscared

3.7

Feeling afraid and not confident because someone seems scary

is fear more generally, not tied to another person's pressure

Antonyms

B

brave

906 1.0

Has courage when facing danger, pain or fear

C

confident

715 2.5

Feeling sure about yourself or what will happen

Idioms

S

scared to death

• Informal

84 3.2

So frightened that you cannot move or speak

S

scared shitless

• Offensive

19 9.9

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

S

scared spitless

• Informal

9.7

So frightened that you cannot move or speak

How Afraid

petrified

29 4.6

terrified

263 2.1

scared

∞ 1.0

frightened

3 1.0

nervous

∞ 1.3

uneasy

98 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology