scary
adjective
ˈsker-ē 
scarier; scariest
1
: causing fright : alarming
a scary story
2
: easily scared : timid
3
: feeling alarm or fright : frightened
scarily
ˈsker-ə-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- alarming
- dire
- direful
- dread
- dreadful
- fearful
- fearsome
- forbidding
- formidable
- frightening
- frightful
- ghastly
- hair-raising
- horrendous
- horrible
- horrifying
- intimidating
- redoubtable
- shocking
- spine-chilling
- terrible
- terrifying
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow
Recent Examples on the Web Cincinnati’s defense could be scary this year particularly against the run. 
Michael Niziolek, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2022 Sure, horror movies are scary, but Aunt Lydia might be the most terrifying TV villain of all time. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2022 Degrees also take years to complete, and even attending a higher education campus can be scary. Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Not every outdoor Halloween decoration has to be scary. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 Putting boundaries in place and getting clear about our priorities can be scary. Veronica Wells, Essence, 5 Sep. 2022 But even better, there are tons of ghost movies that aren’t scary, and rather fall in the categories of romance, drama, and fantasy. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 29 Aug. 2022 Rebecca Beavers, a senior at Morgan State University in Maryland, said the fact that no one has been arrested in connection to the bomb threats is scary because someone could threaten the schools again. Jacquelyne Germain, CNN, 28 Aug. 2022 Uncertainty is scary, but fear, panic and worry are not preparation. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Michael Niziolek, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2022 Sure, horror movies are scary, but Aunt Lydia might be the most terrifying TV villain of all time. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Sep. 2022 Degrees also take years to complete, and even attending a higher education campus can be scary. Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Not every outdoor Halloween decoration has to be scary. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 Putting boundaries in place and getting clear about our priorities can be scary. Veronica Wells, Essence, 5 Sep. 2022 But even better, there are tons of ghost movies that aren’t scary, and rather fall in the categories of romance, drama, and fantasy. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 29 Aug. 2022 Rebecca Beavers, a senior at Morgan State University in Maryland, said the fact that no one has been arrested in connection to the bomb threats is scary because someone could threaten the schools again. Jacquelyne Germain, CNN, 28 Aug. 2022 Uncertainty is scary, but fear, panic and worry are not preparation. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
scary
adjective
ˈsker-ē
scarier; scariest
: causing fright
a scary movie
scary
adjective
1
as in terrifying
causing fear a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- terrifying
- frightening
- intimidating
- formidable
- horrible
- terrible
- alarming
- horrifying
- shocking
- fearful
- creepy
- dread
- eerie
- dreadful
- startling
- trying
- frightful
- gruesome
- ghastly
- fearsome
- troubling
- forbidding
- eery
- disturbing
- horrendous
- spine-chilling
- dire
- unnerving
- hair-raising
- threatening
- daunting
- discouraging
- direful
- disconcerting
- weird
- redoubtable
- disquieting
- demoralizing
- perturbing
- hideous
- dismaying
- distressing
- nightmarish
- macabre
- grisly
- awful
- appalling
- horrid
- bone-chilling
- monstrous
- atrocious
- grewsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reassuring
- comforting
- calming
- relaxing
- soothing
- inviting
- consoling
- tranquilizing
- nonthreatening
- quieting
- lulling
- tranquillizing
- pacifying
- nonintimidating
2
as in timid
easily frightened a scary horse who spooked and kicked at its own shadow Synonyms & Similar Words
- timid
- fearful
- scared
- terrified
- shy
- afraid
- fearsome
- fainthearted
- yellow
- timorous
- mousy
- tremulous
- startled
- panicked
- spooky
- skittish
- mousey
- anxious
- apprehensive
- alarmed
- nervous
- cowardly
- dastardly
- craven
- spooked
- horrified
- unheroic
- gutless
- pusillanimous
- jumpy
- chicken
- shocked
- panicky
- jittery
- spineless
- terrorized
- poltroon
- unnerved
- chickenhearted
- milk-livered
- lily-livered
- chicken-livered
- panic-stricken
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- daring
- adventurous
- bold
- brave
- audacious
- courageous
- gutsy
- hardy
- heroic
- adventuresome
- fearless
- venturous
- confident
- venturesome
- dauntless
- dashing
- undaunted
- intrepid
- valiant
- stout
- heroical
- gallant
- stalwart
- valorous
- stouthearted
- assured
- unflinching
- determined
- greathearted
- game
- plucky
- undeterred
- resolute
- firm
- spirited
- lionhearted
- spunky
- doughty
- self-assured
- unswerving
- self-confident
- mettlesome
3
as in scared
filled with fear or dread I got a little scary when I heard the noise in the basement Synonyms & Similar Words
- scared
- frightened
- terrified
- afraid
- horrified
- shocked
- fearful
- alarmed
- worried
- spooked
- hysterical
- upset
- aghast
- terrorized
- nervous
- startled
- hysteric
- panicked
- anxious
- affrighted
- apprehensive
- timid
- appalled
- disturbed
- panicky
- horror-struck
- fearsome
- fainthearted
- jumpy
- phobic
- funky
- timorous
- shrinking
- uneasy
- cautious
- agitated
- perturbed
- intimidated
- wary
- disquieted
- jittery
- tremulous
- daunted
- chicken
- shy
- careful
- disconcerted
- panic-stricken
- unnerved
- coward
- dismayed
- cowardly
- skittish
- cowed
- craven
- gutless
- pusillanimous
- tremulant
- prudent
- unadventurous
- heedful
- lily-livered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fearless
- adventurous
- daring
- unafraid
- brave
- bold
- audacious
- courageous
- gutsy
- spirited
- adventuresome
- spunky
- heroic
- cool
- plucky
- sure
- venturesome
- daredevil
- confident
- hardy
- dashing
- intrepid
- valiant
- stout
- venturous
- gallant
- collected
- sanguine
- stalwart
- valorous
- composed
- unperturbed
- assured
- dauntless
- heroical
- undaunted
- resolute
- stouthearted
- manful
- lionhearted
- defenestrating
- defenestration
- defenestrations
- defensatives
- defense
- defense in depth
- defense mechanism
- defensed
- defenseless
- Defenseless Mennonite
- defenselessly
- defenselessness
- defenselessnesses
- defenseman
- defensemen
- defenses
- defensibilities
- defensibility
- defensible
- defensiblenesses
- defensibly
- defensing
- defensins
- defensive
- defensive allegation