adjective

scared

Feeling afraid.

The little boy feels scared when he hears thunder outside.

Etymology

The source verb concerns frightening. Scared describes the resulting state of fear in the person affected.

More examples

  • I'm scared of heights, so I avoid tall ladders.
  • She's scared to tell her parents about the broken window.
  • We're scared that our dog might not come home.

Forms

scared

scare verb — To make someone feel afraid.

scary adjective — Likely to make someone feel afraid.

Similar words

frightened
Often suggests fear caused by a particular event or threat.
terrified
Means extremely afraid, rather than just nervous or uneasy.