What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
scare
Example
The loud noise scared the cat and it ran away. [scared: past tense]
Example
I don't like horror movies because they always scare me. [scare: verb]
terrify
Example
The thought of being trapped in an elevator terrifies me. [terrifies: present tense]
Example
The horror movie was so terrifying that I couldn't sleep for days. [terrifying: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scare is more commonly used than terrify in everyday language. Scare is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while terrify is less common and tends to be used in more formal or dramatic contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between scare and terrify?
Terrify is typically associated with a formal or dramatic tone, while scare is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
