Scared

As an Adjective

1. Feeling fear or anxiety (e.g., she was scared of the dark).
2. Nervous or uneasy about something (e.g., he was scared to speak in public).

As a Verb (Past Tense of “Scare”)

1. To have frightened or startled someone (e.g., the loud noise scared the children).

Word History

The word scared comes from the Old Norse skirra, meaning “to shy away from” or “avoid.” Over time, it evolved to mean a strong feeling of fear or distress.

Examples

1. She felt scared when she heard strange noises at night.
2. He was too scared to jump off the diving board.
3. The horror movie scared everyone in the theater.
4. The sudden barking of the dog scared the little boy.

Synonyms

Afraid, frightened, nervous, anxious, terrified

Related Words

Fear, panic, alarm, shock, dread

Antonyms

Brave, confident, fearless, calm, unafraid