scare tactics

American  

[skair tak-tiks] / ˈskɛər ˌtæk tɪks /

Also scare tactic

plural noun

1. a strategy to get someone to comply or surrender by making them afraid.

   Scare tactics won't keep kids from using drugs, says this social worker.

   In this telemarketing scam, perpetrators use the threat of a computer meltdown as a scare tactic to get victims to send money.

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Etymology

Origin of scare tactics

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scare tactics

For years, reformers rightly pushed back against scare tactics meant to keep marijuana illegal.

From Slate ● Jun. 13, 2026

"But it's hard to ignore that Anthropic has a history of scare tactics."

From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026

“This is nothing but scare tactics to get people out of the race,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

"This is exactly the risk right now here in Moldova," the prime minister says, justifying using such scare tactics.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2025

But night doctors weren’t just fictions conjured as scare tactics.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot