# scary

/ˈskɛɹi/ (US) · /skˈeəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scary
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. causing fear

adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal

making you feel afraid or nervous.

For teachers: causing fear, anxiety, or alarm. Often used to describe entertainment or situations that are intentionally frightening.

- The movie was so scary that I had to cover my eyes during the ending.
- Walking through the abandoned hospital at night was a truly scary experience that left the entire group feeling unsettled.

Usage: Commonly used as a predicative adjective after 'be' or 'look'.

### 2. striking or surprising

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

so impressive or strange that it is almost shocking.

For teachers: uncannily striking, surprising, or impressive in its intensity or accuracy.

- The resemblance between the two cousins is actually quite scary.
- The new software can mimic a person's voice with scary accuracy, raising significant concerns about digital security.

### 3. very or extremely

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal

used to emphasize how much of a quality something has.

For teachers: functioning as an intensifier to mean 'to a frightening or surprising degree'.

- The car was going scary fast down the narrow country road.
- The stock market has been scary quiet lately, leading many analysts to predict a sudden period of high volatility.

Usage: In this sense, the word functions as an adverb modifying an adjective.

## Examples

- The movie was very scary.
- Walking home alone in the dark can be a scary experience for many people.
- While the initial drop on the roller coaster is undeniably scary, the adrenaline rush that follows is what keeps enthusiasts coming back for more.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.