jump scare
noun
variants
or less commonly jump-scare
or jumpscare
plural jump scares also jump-scares or jumpscares
: a scripted moment (as in a film or video game) intended to startle the audience
The biggest jolts in "The Omen" … come from conventionally staged jump scares, where a nasty image suddenly flashes on the screen accompanied by a startling sound effect.—
Li Wang
Li Wang… differentiates itself from other VR [=virtual reality] horror games by not resorting to cheap jump-scares, instead flexing its brilliant visuals to build an atmospheric sense of foreboding.—Chris Button
Chris ButtonExamples of jump scare in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The silence in the room primes the nervous system for potential jump scares, and the jump scares arrive.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Lacking any sort of thematic heft to make the proceedings truly spooky, proficient helmer Ovredal mainly relies on a series of jump scares, complete with sudden loud noises, to keep us on edge.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
As with the ominous music before a jump scare, things certainly seem to be trending in that direction.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
One scene, though, gave him a serious jump scare.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for jump scare
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Jen Chaney, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Lacking any sort of thematic heft to make the proceedings truly spooky, proficient helmer Ovredal mainly relies on a series of jump scares, complete with sudden loud noises, to keep us on edge.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
As with the ominous music before a jump scare, things certainly seem to be trending in that direction.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
One scene, though, gave him a serious jump scare.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for jump scare
Cite this Entry
“Jump scare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20scare. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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