scary
UK: ˈskeəri | US: ˈskeri
adj. causing fear or alarm; frightening
adj. easily frightened; timid (archaic/rare)
The word "scary" derives from the verb "scare," which originated from Old Norse skirra ("to frighten"), influenced by Middle English skerren. The suffix "-y" is a productive English adjectival suffix, often added to nouns or verbs to mean "characterized by" or "inclined to." Over time, "scary" evolved to describe things that evoke fear, while its archaic sense of "easily scared" faded. The logic is straightforward: "scare" + "-y" = "frightening."
The horror movie was too scary for young children.
She told a scary story around the campfire.
The dark alley looked scary at night.
His sudden shout made the cat feel scared and scurry away.
The abandoned house had a scary reputation in the neighborhood.