scary

[skair-ee]

adjective

scarier, scariest 

1. causing fright or alarm.

2. easily frightened; timid.

scary

/ ˈskɛərɪ /

adjective

1. causing fear or alarm; frightening

2. easily roused to fear; timid

Word History and Origins

Origin of scary¹

First recorded in 1575–85; scare + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Actor Will Arnett has revealed how "scary" it was doing live stand-up comedy as he prepared to play a novice comedian in Bradley Cooper's new movie "Is This Thing On?"

Read more on Barron's

The whole movement is based on a notion that difference is scary, change is bad and everything that’s happened since you were 11 years old is a travesty.

Read more on Salon

The short-term realities of the market might be scary—and yes, stocks might fall more—but over time, the U.S. stock market is one of the world’s greatest wealth creation engines.

Read more on Barron's

Focusing just on debt paints a very scary picture, Magouyrk said, but looking at the combination of new deals, projected revenue and cash flow presents a rosier one.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It wasn’t scary in the fact of understanding that tendinopathy, we all kind of have it playing over the time,” said Smart, who is entering his 12th NBA season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alarming 
• chilling 
• creepy 
• eerie 
• hairy 
• horrifying 
• intimidating 
• shocking 
• spooky