Scare

/skɛə/ · noun

Meaning

A minor fright..

Definitions by Sense

1. A minor fright.
2. A cause of terror or alarm; a panic; something that inspires fear or dread.
3. A device or object used to frighten.
4. (transitive) To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
5. (intransitive) (To be able) to be scared.
6. lean; scanty

Example Sentences

Johnny had a bad scare last night.

England were held to a draw after surviving a major scare against Switzerland as they were forced to come from two goals behind to earn a point in the Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.

a food-poisoning scare

But I admit the possibility of their being used as "scares" for either birds of prey or snakes, or both.

Did it scare you when I said "Boo!"?

That cannot be; the noise of thy crossbow / Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.

Late triumphs of Russian science are scaring the very dogwater out of large elements in our society, and we both fear more "purging" instead of more effort at catching up.

(Laurel Stevenson) Would you please be quiet? You're scaring the little girl. (Craig Toomey) Scaring the little girl?! Scaring the little girl?! Lady!

Synonyms for scare

Antonyms for scare

Related Words

Word Forms

• scares
• scaring
• scared
• more scare
• most scare

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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