What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ghast
Example
The ghastly sight of the accident left me feeling sick. [ghastly: adjective]
Example
The old mansion had a ghastly atmosphere that made me shiver. [ghastly: adjective]
scare
Example
The loud noise scared me and I jumped out of my seat. [scared: verb]
Example
The horror movie was so scary that I had trouble sleeping afterwards. [scary: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scare is a more commonly used word than ghast in everyday language. Scare is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ghast is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ghast and scare?
Both ghast and scare can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but ghast may be perceived as more formal due to its less common usage and serious connotation.
