as in frightening
to strike with fear
thunderstorms have always scared her
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Recent Examples of scaring
That combination—higher costs, fewer flights, and steady demand—has given airlines more room to raise fares without scaring off travelers.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
Schwarzenegger’s strategy energized Californians who wanted to punish incumbent Democrats, but avoided scaring too many of the state’s median voters.
—Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Plus, nobody will careen past you at 110 mph, scaring you spitless.
—Allen Best, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
And with it almost out in the world, that’s scaring him a little bit.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
At the time, local hunters blamed the Ping for scaring away game.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Send other things that are going to help improve the livelihood of everyday Memphians, instead of just scaring them back into the house.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
In a story translated from Korean, a ghost aches with loneliness after scaring everyone away; in a story translated from Arabic, a midwife is called to aid with the birth of … something.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
Schwarzenegger’s strategy energized Californians who wanted to punish incumbent Democrats, but avoided scaring too many of the state’s median voters.
—Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Plus, nobody will careen past you at 110 mph, scaring you spitless.
—Allen Best, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
And with it almost out in the world, that’s scaring him a little bit.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
At the time, local hunters blamed the Ping for scaring away game.
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
Send other things that are going to help improve the livelihood of everyday Memphians, instead of just scaring them back into the house.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
In a story translated from Korean, a ghost aches with loneliness after scaring everyone away; in a story translated from Arabic, a midwife is called to aid with the birth of … something.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scaring
Verb
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This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
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Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Use line in the two- to four-pound class to avoid spooking extremely wary fish and to permit the minnows swimming freedom.—
John Phillips,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
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Many other businesses considered similar moves, spooking the state's lawmakers, as Delaware, despite being a heavily Democratic state, has long been viewed as a haven for business.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Some cyclists sped by pretty quickly, startling us and our dog.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scaring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scaring. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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