scaredy-cat

noun

: an unduly fearful person

Examples of scaredy-cat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026 Only this version of Slattery is a whimpering scaredy-cat, who unleashes the beast within at a key moment in the film. Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026 Kaling said for scaredy-cats like her, there are plenty of less-adventurous slide options. Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025 Clown Alert This post is a scaredy-cat guide designed mostly for viewers who suffer from flight anxiety, but some people are scared of clowns too. Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025 Contrasting the scaredy-cat teams, Roseman sees the whole NFL marketplace as a potential roster-building resource. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

scared (past participle of scare) + -y entry 1 + cat

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scaredy-cat was in 1904

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scaredy-cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scaredy-cat. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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