Another word for scared
The best other words for scared are fearful, apprehensive, fearful of and afraid.
- Most formal
- fearful, alarmed, apprehensive
- Strongest
- terrified, panicky, cowardly
- Casual
- spooked, jumpy, panicky
- Instead of “pretty scared”
- afraid, nervous, worried
Scared /skɛrd/ (adjective): Feeling afraid, frightened, or anxious because of a real or imagined threat. In simple words: feeling afraid, uneasy, or not wanting to do something because of fear. Below are 20 rated synonyms across 3 senses, plus 36 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
20 synonyms shown
Afraid of danger · adjective
feeling fear or alarm
Anxious or uneasy · adjective
feeling worried, uneasy, or nervous
Afraid of doing · adjective
reluctant because of possible embarrassment, harm, or difficulty
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- afraid — neutral, general fear term
- frightened — emphasizes the feeling itself
- fearful — slightly more formal and serious
The dashed ring marks “scared” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for scared in your sentence
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How to choose
Use afraid, frightened, and terrified for direct fear, with terrified reserved for the strongest cases. For anxiety or reluctance, anxious, uneasy, hesitant, and reluctant are usually more natural than scared.
Antonyms of scared
- brave
- courageous
- calm
- unafraid
- fearless
- confident
- bold
- secure
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| afraid | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| frightened | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| fearful | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| alarmed | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| terrified | 5/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| spooked | 2/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| jumpy | 2/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| anxious | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| nervous | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| uneasy | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| apprehensive | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| worried | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| tense | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| panicky | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| hesitant | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| reluctant | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual, creative |
| cowardly | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| timid | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| fearful of | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| gun-shy | 2/5 | casual | casual, creative |
Instead of “very scared”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| pretty scared | afraid, nervous, worried |
| really scared | terrified, panic-stricken, frantic |
| too scared to | afraid to, hesitant to, reluctant to |
More words related to scared
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “scared”.
- startled
- shaken
- squeamish
- wary
- nervousness
- fearfulness
- trepidation
- timidity
- diffident
- cowardice
- apprehension
- dread
- alarm
- panic
- terror
- spookiness
- fright
- horror
- misgiving
- reluctance
- hesitancy
- shyness
- backing away
- on edge
- in fear
- full of fear
- intimidated
- daunted
- overawed
- cowed
- put off
- put on guard
- wound up
- jittery
- on tenterhooks
- spooked out
Questions about synonyms for scared
What is the most formal or academic alternative to scared?
Fearful and apprehensive are the most formal everyday alternatives. Apprehensive is especially useful when the fear is about a possible future event.
What is a stronger word than scared?
Terrified is much stronger and suggests intense fear. Panicked is also strong, but it often emphasizes loss of control rather than pure fear.
What is a milder alternative to scared?
Nervous, uneasy, or worried are milder and often sound more natural in everyday writing. Use them when the feeling is more like tension or concern than real fear.
What is a stronger word than scared?
Stronger words include "terrified," "panic-stricken," and "horrified." These suggest a much higher level of fear than "scared."
What is a milder alternative to scared?
Milder alternatives include "uneasy," "nervous," and "wary." These suggest discomfort or caution without strong fear.