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

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

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 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

“Those programs were scare tactics, right?” said Sanho, who was a student activist when the government first invited “Officer Friendly or Not-So-Friendly” to come into the classroom.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2025

In some countries, scare tactics reduce support for reforestation, a real measure that requires more effort but may work.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2024

The PSFs had switched over to outright scare tactics years ago, but there was a time when all of their questioning had been done in soft voices.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken