What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
appall
Example
The news of the accident appalled everyone in the community. [appalled: past tense]
Example
The graphic images in the movie were truly appalling. [appalling: adjective]
scare
Example
The loud noise scared the little girl. [scared: past tense]
Example
The horror movie gave me a good scare. [scare: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scare is more commonly used than appall in everyday language. Scare is a versatile word that can be used in different situations to describe feelings of fear or fright. Appall, on the other hand, is less common and is typically used in more serious or dramatic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between appall and scare?
Both appall and scare can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, appall is often associated with more serious or dramatic situations, while scare can be used in a wider range of formality levels.