scary
Enough to startle
Scary describes something that causes fear or alarm: a scary movie, a scary noise in the basement.
The word works for genuine threats and mild frights alike—a scary diagnosis versus a scary Halloween costume.
Informally, scary can mean impressively extreme: She has a scary amount of energy.
The related noun is scare; the verb is to scare.
Disturbingly strange
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- uncannyEerily beyond normal
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
- disturbingCausing mental unease
chilling · spine-tingling · goosebumps · hair-raising · blood-curdling · macabre · gothic · atmospheric
Frightening dream causing wakefulness
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- slasherKnife-wielding horror villain
- goreGraphic bloody violence
- bloodcurdlingExtremely frightening or horrifying
scream · terror · fright · suspense · psychological · grotesque · gruesome · monstrous
Expressing intent to harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- intimidatingInspiring fear or unease
looming · dangerous · hostile · aggressive · malevolent · baleful · dire · grim
Resembling a specter
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
- demonicOf or like devils
possessed · cursed · otherworldly · phantasmal · apparition · poltergeist · specter · wraith
Creating anxious anticipation
- grippingHolding attention completely
- tenseStrained or nervous
- nerve-wrackingCausing extreme anxiety
- edge-of-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
cliffhanger · heart-pounding · adrenaline · anticipation · unpredictable · mysterious · intrigue · stalker
creepy
Disturbingly strange
- unsettlingCausing unease or discomfort
- uncannyEerily beyond normal
- unnervingCausing loss of composure
disturbing · chilling · spine-tingling · goosebumps · hair-raising · blood-curdling · macabre · gothic · atmospheric · foreboding
nightmare
Frightening dream causing wakefulness
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- slasherKnife-wielding horror villain
- goreGraphic bloody violence
bloodcurdling · scream · terror · fright · suspense · psychological · grotesque · gruesome · monstrous · fiendish
threatening
Expressing intent to harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
intimidating · looming · dangerous · hostile · aggressive · malevolent · baleful · dire · grim · daunting
ghostly
Resembling a specter
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
demonic · possessed · cursed · otherworldly · phantasmal · apparition · poltergeist · specter · wraith · banshee
suspenseful
Creating anxious anticipation
- grippingHolding attention completely
- tenseStrained or nervous
- nerve-wrackingCausing extreme anxiety
edge-of-seat · cliffhanger · heart-pounding · adrenaline · anticipation · unpredictable · mysterious · intrigue · stalker · pursuit
frightened
Experiencing sudden fear
panicked · startled · shaken · intimidated · spooked · jumpy · nervous · anxious · apprehensive · timid
- fearfear, dread, afraid, fright, frightened
- media descriptorsdramatic, thrilling, suspenseful, emotional, atmospheric
- menacingthreatening, intimidating, menacing, ominous, sinister
- baby talkmama, dada, papa, mommy, daddy
scarycomforting
Giving emotional ease
soothing · reassuring · calming · relaxing · tranquilizing
scaryencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
emboldening · inspiring · heartening · brave · fearless
- scared to deathExtremely frightened
- scared stiffImmobilized by extreme fright
- scare offCause to flee
- scared offFrightened into leaving
- scare someone to deathFrighten to the extreme
- scared shitlessExtremely, viscerally afraid
scare, scared, scarecrow, scares, scaring, scariest, scarier, unscary, scariness