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. )

Example Sentences

"We were quite scared, we've never gone through something like this in Canada," said Saunders, who came here with her husband from Alberta, excited by the good reputation Vallarta has among their fellow citizens.

From Barron's

Speaking about the recent violence, he says: "It was a strange and difficult day – everybody was scared. And now some are afraid about what might still happen."

From BBC

The first is visitors being scared away from Mexico’s end of the soccer World Cup, which kicks off in Mexico City on June 11.

From Barron's

"I was watching them and thinking 'How did I end up here?' I was so scared."

From BBC

The jury then heard how Longhurst called his mother, who was working on deliveries at a takeaway restaurant, but did not mention the accident, adding: "I was scared if she would judge me."

From BBC

Related Words

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