Gloss · Another word for · scared

Another word for scared.

Scared stretches from a creak on the stairs to a diagnosis. Pick the word for how big the fear is, and how sudden.

A little scared

• nervousScared and jittery about what’s next.She was nervous before her first job interview.
• uneasyVaguely scared; something feels off.The silence in the house made him uneasy.
• apprehensiveScared of what may come; formal.Many parents are apprehensive about the new bus route.

Very scared

• terrifiedVery scared; fear takes over.The dog is terrified of thunderstorms.
• petrifiedSo scared you can’t move.I was petrified when the ladder began to slip.
• panickedSo scared you can’t think.Panicked shoppers rushed for the exits.

Suddenly scared

• startledScared for a second by surprise.The cat was startled by the doorbell.
• alarmedSuddenly worried by danger.Neighbors were alarmed by the smell of smoke.
• spookedScared by something eerie; casual.The horses got spooked by the wind in the trees.

When to keep “scared”

Keep scared for plain talk and for children; “I’m scared” is honest and hard to misread.

In Gloss, every word comes with its near neighbours and a line on how they differ, so you can pick the exact one. For iPhone, free for three days.

More words to swap

another word for excited · another word for funny · another word for hard · another word for easy · another word for big · another word for small

Guides: Words to use instead of “very” · How to be more articulate