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Scare Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ˜ฑ
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scare

[skษ›หr ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

feeling

To frighten or cause fear in someone, to make someone feel afraid.

Synonyms

alarm, frighten, startle, terrify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
scare

Used in everyday situations when someone causes you to feel sudden fear or shock, often in a mild or playful manner.

  • The sudden noise scared me
  • He scared his friend by jumping out from behind the door
frighten

Used to describe causing someone to feel strong fear or dread, and it can be more intense than 'scare'. Often refers to situational fear.

  • The loud thunder frightened the little children
  • The idea of speaking in public frightens her
terrify

Used for situations that cause extreme fear or terror, and has a much stronger connotation than 'scare' or 'frighten'. It often implies a more prolonged and intense fear.

  • The horror movie terrified the audience
  • The thought of skydiving terrifies him
alarm

Refers to causing someone to feel a sense of urgent concern or worry, usually regarding a potential danger or a serious situation.

  • The news of the approaching storm alarmed the residents
  • Don't alarm your parents by being late without calling
startle

Involves causing someone to feel sudden surprise or shock, without necessarily implying fear. It often refers to unexpected stimuli.

  • The cat startled me when it jumped out from under the bed
  • She was startled by the sudden loud noise

Examples of usage

  • The sudden loud noise scared me.
  • The horror movie scared the audience.
Context #2 | Noun

emotion

A sudden feeling of fear or panic.

Synonyms

dread, fear, panic, terror.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
scare

Scare is often used for brief and sudden feelings of fear. It can be used in a playful manner or to describe a minor fright.

  • The loud noise gave me a scare
  • She likes to scare her friends by hiding and jumping out
fear

Fear is a general term for an intense feeling of anxiety or worry caused by the presence or anticipation of danger. It encompasses a wide range of situations and intensities.

  • He has a fear of heights
  • Her fear of public speaking prevented her from taking the job
panic

Panic refers to a sudden, overwhelming sense of fear that often results in irrational behavior. It is typically more intense and immediate than other forms of fear.

  • The fire alarm caused widespread panic
  • When she couldn't find her child, she started to panic
dread

Dread describes a deep, enduring sense of fear or apprehension, typically about something that will happen in the future. It is often linked to anxiety and worry.

  • I dread going to the dentist
  • She felt a sense of dread as the exam day approached
terror

Terror is an extreme form of fear, usually associated with life-threatening situations. It implies a state of extreme distress and helplessness.

  • The horror movie filled her with terror
  • During the robbery, the customers were frozen in terror

Examples of usage

  • She felt a scare when she heard a strange noise at night.
  • The children screamed in scare when they saw a spider.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Pop Culture

  • The 'scare' factor is often a crucial element in horror movies, aiming to surprise or frighten the audience.
  • Halloween is a time when many people celebrate by trying to scare others, with costumes and haunted houses.
  • Famous scary stories, like those of Edgar Allan Poe, use suspense and fear to captivate readers.

Psychology

  • Fear can trigger a fight-or-flight response, an instinctive reaction to perceived danger.
  • People often use humor to cope with fear, turning a scary situation into something funny.
  • Some studies suggest that experiencing fear (like during a scary movie) can increase feelings of happiness afterward.

Literature

  • In many fairy tales, the concept of a 'scare' is used to teach lessons about bravery and caution.
  • Scary characters, like witches or monsters, often symbolize deeper fears or social issues.
  • Suspenseful narratives tend to build 'scares' to engage readers and keep them on the edge of their seats.

Science

  • Researchers study 'scare' responses to understand how our brains process fear and danger.
  • Certain sounds or images can provoke immediate scary responses, often tied to evolution and survival.
  • Scientific experiments have shown that sharing scary experiences can strengthen social bonds among friends.

Origin of 'scare'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Old English 'sฤ‹ieran,' which means to frighten or to startle.
  • In its early use, 'scare' was often associated with sudden fear or alarm.
  • It has been used in English since the 15th century, showing how long people have been afraid of things!

The word 'scare' originated in the late 17th century, derived from the Old Norse word 'skirra' meaning 'to terrify'. Over time, the word evolved to represent the act of causing fear or panic in someone. The concept of being scared is universal and has been a part of human experience since ancient times, often associated with survival instincts and the fight-or-flight response.

See also: scarecrow, scared, scarily, scary.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,923, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.