scariness
What induces fright
Scariness is the quality of being scary—the capacity to frighten or unsettle.
A horror movie's scariness determines whether it keeps you up at night.
The scariness of the abandoned hospital made us turn back.
The word applies equally to genuine threats and theatrical frights.
Causing unease or discomfort
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- off-puttingCausing mild aversion
- disturbingCausing mental unease
skin-crawling · goosebumps · shivers · weird · strange · uncanny · eerie · ominous
Persistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- frightSudden intense fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- phobiaPersistent irrational dread
alarm · apprehension · trepidation · unease · nervousness · jitters · tension · worry
Disturbing, death-obsessed
- gruesomeCausing horror and disgust
- ghoulishFascinated by death grotesquely
- monstrousFrighteningly huge or wicked
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
nightmarish · bloodcurdling · spine-chilling · gothic · eldritch · morbid · gory · slasher
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
bullying · coercion · aggression · looming · towering · formidable · fearsome · fierce
Resembling a specter
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- phantasmalLike an apparition
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
apparitional · paranormal · poltergeist · séance · possession · demonic · cursed · hexed
Emergency response hormone
- suspensefulCreating anxious anticipation
- edge-of-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
- heart-poundingCausing intense physical excitement
- white-knuckleCausing intense nervous tension
gripping · nail-biting · cliffhanger · startle · shock · surprise · tension · anticipation
unsettling
Causing unease or discomfort
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- off-puttingCausing mild aversion
disturbing · skin-crawling · goosebumps · shivers · weird · strange · uncanny · eerie · ominous · sinister
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
phobia · alarm · apprehension · trepidation · unease · nervousness · jitters · tension · worry · timidity
macabre
Disturbing, death-obsessed
- gruesomeCausing horror and disgust
- ghoulishFascinated by death grotesquely
- monstrousFrighteningly huge or wicked
grotesque · nightmarish · bloodcurdling · spine-chilling · gothic · eldritch · morbid · gory · slasher · zombie
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
overbearing · bullying · coercion · aggression · looming · towering · formidable · fearsome · fierce · glowering
ghostly
Resembling a specter
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- phantasmalLike an apparition
otherworldly · apparitional · paranormal · poltergeist · séance · possession · demonic · cursed · hexed · banshee
adrenaline
Emergency response hormone
- suspensefulCreating anxious anticipation
- edge-of-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
- heart-poundingCausing intense physical excitement
white-knuckle · gripping · nail-biting · cliffhanger · startle · shock · surprise · tension · anticipation · exhilarating
scarinessreassurance
Words meant to calm
peacefulness · tranquility · serenity · coziness · warmth
scarinessharmlessness
Inability to cause damage
safety · safeness · innocuousness · benignity · friendliness
scarinesspleasantness
Quality of being agreeable
attractiveness · adorableness · cuteness · cheerfulness · loveliness
scare, scary, scared, scares, scaring, scariest, scarier, unscary, scarification