scared

American  

[skaird] / skɛərd /

adjective

1. filled with fear, terror, or dread, often suddenly; frightened; alarmed.

   The doctor provided not only physical treatment but also moral guidance for scared patients with terminal diagnoses.

   I came into college as a scared freshman and left as a confident, competent adult.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of scare.

Other Word Forms

• unscared adjective

Etymology

Origin of scared

scare ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Have you ever gone into a dark room and heard something scurrying across the floor and felt your pulse quicken and your heart race? You were scared — afraid. When you are scared, you are frightened or alarmed. It can be a momentary thing: hearing a car screech outside your house and worrying that your dog just got hit. It can be longer: you might be scared for weeks or months after a medical diagnosis. While the verb is usually associated with a single person or small group, you might also apply it more generally: a fast-moving tornado could have scared a whole town.

Example Sentences

He was one of the first to realize the value of the retail investor, and now his failure scared Mom and Pop away for decades.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

He was even scared of the deep end of the pool as a child.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

“Staff described the situation as heartbreaking, noting the puppy appeared scared and disoriented but was fortunate to have found its way to safety.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Many years later, I asked her if she was scared that night.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

His old tail started thumping the ground, then he opened his mouth and let out a bawl that scared the chickens out of the barn.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• afraid
• anxious
• fearful
• panicked
• panicky
• startled