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

Examples of scary in a Sentence

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

Beyoncé knows what the real scariest day of the year is. —Michael Savio, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024

Remember to ask questions to get a clear understanding of your partners’ personal views, and try your best not to shy away from the scarier aspects of the discussions—such as death or afterlife. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Somebody who can be funny and scary and scared and a little unaccustomed to human company…. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Nov. 2024

People are definitely on edge and it’s being made worse by the onslaught of negative and scary ads blanketing our television screens and arriving in our mailboxes. —Abby Sjoberg, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scary

adjective

ˈske(ə)r-ē 

ˈska(ə)r-

scarier; scariest

1

: causing fright : alarming

a scary movie

2

: easily scared : timid

3

: feeling alarm or fright : scared, frightened

scary feeling

scarily

-ə-lē 

adverb