scared

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "scared" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a feeling of fear or apprehension. For example: "I was scared when I heard the loud noise coming from outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It scared me.

The New York Times - Arts

Everyone was scared.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I was scared.

The New York Times

Was I scared?

The New York Times

All that said, Cash thinks Brexit is nothing to be scared of.

The Guardian

He is scared about a contract his family signed with the smugglers who brought him across to Sicily.

The Guardian

The strong and determined beat of the song and the lyrics ("Feeling it coming in the air, hear their screams from everywhere, I'm addicted to the thrill, of this dangerous love affair. Can't be scared when it goes down, got a problem tell me now.

The Guardian

Urging the Stormont Assembly to scrutinise republican actions in their debate on the IRA ceasefire next Monday, the North Antrim MLA said: "This is a clear example of Sinn Fein running scared.

The Guardian

She was obviously scared and in pain and shock but her thoughts were still focused on her children.

The Guardian

"They will have won if the whole of France continues to be scared".

The Guardian - Books

A prime minister running scared from his own backbenchers abstaining this week on a motion that he said is illegal.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scared" in conjunction with adverbs like "very", "really", or "slightly" to fine-tune the intensity of the fear being expressed.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "scared". While it's correct to say "scared of something", phrases like "scared from something" are grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The word "scared" functions primarily as an adjective, describing a state of being filled with fear or apprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It is commonly used to express a feeling of fear, as demonstrated in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "scared" is a common and grammatically sound adjective used to convey feelings of fear or apprehension. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and versatile, appearing frequently in contexts like News & Media. While alternatives such as "afraid" or "frightened" exist, "scared" offers a direct and widely understood way to express this particular emotion. Pay attention to proper preposition usage (e.g., "scared of") to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afraid

Uses a different adjective to convey a similar feeling of fear or apprehension.

frightened

Employs a participle form expressing the state of being scared.

fearful

Another adjective expressing a sense of fear or dread.

apprehensive

Indicates anxiety or fear about something that might happen.

anxious

Conveys a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.

terrified

Signifies an extreme level of fear, more intense than "scared".

in fear

Rephrases the sentiment using a prepositional phrase emphasizing the state of being afraid.

intimidated

Suggests being made timid or fearful, often by an authority or threat.

unnerved

Expresses a loss of courage or confidence; to be made nervous.

panicked

Describes a state of overwhelming fear and anxiety.

FAQs

How can I use "scared" in a sentence?

You can use "scared" to describe the feeling of fear or apprehension. For example, "I was "scared" when I heard the thunder."

What's the difference between "scared" and "afraid"?

While "scared" and "afraid" are often used interchangeably, "scared" can sometimes imply a more immediate or startled reaction, while "afraid" might suggest a more lingering feeling.

What are some alternatives to saying "I'm scared"?

You can use alternatives like "I'm "frightened"", "I'm "apprehensive"", or "I'm "anxious" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "scared of" or "scared from"?

It is correct to say "scared of". "Scared from" is not grammatically correct. For example, "I am "scared of" heights" is correct.