: thrown into or being in a state of fear, fright, or panic
scared of snakes
scared to go out

Examples of scared in a Sentence

I am really scared about speaking in front of the class. He was scared that his mother wouldn't let him go to the movies with his friends. She's scared to walk alone at night.
Recent Examples on the Web Check out the slideshow above for 10 unsettling examples that have people scared to fly Boeing. Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 The therapist, scared and disturbed, asks Jessica if Alice has been studying ventriloquism. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 Here are some additional thoughts: Don't be scared to file for an extension. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Bus drivers were too scared to ferry around a group of radicals. John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 However, Wang’s direction makes clear that the American women, despite class differences and cultural backgrounds, can seek the same kind of comfort, especially when scared and alone. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2024 My mom saw the film and was scared about some of the scenes. Simon Thompson, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 In one episode, Daddy Pig (Richard Ridings) is shown to be scared of heights, and a runaway caravan flies down a hill. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 And in 2015 people were scared to use the hashtag Black Lives Matter. Liz Appel, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scared.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scared was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near scared

Cite this Entry

“Scared.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scared. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on scared

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!