scary
SKEH-uh-ree
Scary (adjective) means causing fear or unease. Example: “The abandoned house looked scary at night.”
adjective
1
Causing fear or unease.
"He watched Conjuring but it was too scary for him."
"She was hiding behind her pillow during the scary parts of the film."
"The abandoned house looked scary at night."
"It's scary how fast technology is changing."
"The film was so scary that I slept with the light on."
"The tiger's jaws were scary."
How to use scary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFrightening, or unsettling in a way that makes you uneasy.
Common pairings
scary movie
scary thought
pretty scary
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Word forms
- Comparative
- scarier
- Superlative
- scariest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The abandoned house looked _____ at night.
Etymology
From "scare" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for scary
See all rhymes for scary →Frequently asked questions
What does “scary” mean?
The word “scary” means causing fear or unease. In plain terms, frightening, or unsettling in a way that makes you uneasy.
How do you pronounce “scary”?
“Scary” is pronounced SKEH-uh-ree (/ˈskɛə.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “scary” in a sentence?
Here is “scary” used in a sentence: “The abandoned house looked scary at night.”
What part of speech is “scary”?
“Scary” is an adjective.
Is “scary” a common word?
“Scary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between scary and scared?
"Scary" describes what causes fear — a scary film or a scary noise. "Scared" describes the person feeling the fear: "I was scared." Mixing them up, as in "I'm so scary of spiders," is a common learner error; the thing is scary, the person is scared.
Is scary informal?
"Scary" is standard English but leans conversational; in formal writing, "frightening" or "alarming" often fits better. It is entirely acceptable in journalism and everyday prose.
What is the difference between scary and creepy?
"Scary" is the general word for anything causing fear or unease, from sudden shocks to real dangers. "Creepy" is narrower, describing a slow, skin-crawling unease, often caused by something unsettlingly strange rather than an outright threat.
Is it "scarier" or "more scary"?
The standard comparative and superlative are "scarier" and "scariest," following the usual rule for two-syllable adjectives ending in -y. "More scary" is heard in speech and is not strictly wrong, but "scarier" is the preferred form in writing.
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