Synonyms for

Scares

Verb / skerz / Another word for scares — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

To cause fear or frighten someone.

Synonyms & similar words

fright dash scareoff scareaway scar pock pit panic frightenoff pall panicattack daunt frightenaway scare affright mark frighten frightens terrifies startles panics horrifies intimidates daunts spooks unsettles disconcerts appalls alarms shocks dismays unnerves worries disturbs petrifies scandalizes affrights

Synonyms by register

Formal

frightens terrifies intimidates alarms

Informal

freaks out spooks jumps petrifies

Literary

daunts unmans appalls

Antonyms

calms reassures comforts soothes encourages braves

Common collocations

  • scares the life out of
  • scares me to death
  • scares the hell out of
  • scares easily
  • scares up
  • scares away
  • scares off

Word family

noun scare
verb scare
adjective scary

Usage note

The verb 'scares' implies causing sudden fear or fright. It is often used with 'to death' or 'the life out of' for emphasis.

Example sentences

  1. The loud noise scares me.
  2. The haunted house scares the kids.
  3. The barking dog scares the mailman.
  4. The thunderstorm scares the cat.
  5. The ghost story scares the campers.

Quotes

  • The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. - Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • Fear is the mind-killer. - Frank Herbert
  • The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. - H.P. Lovecraft

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