scary
gb/skˈɛɹi/ us/skˈɛɹi/
A2
English
~ 9400
ijesztő, aggasztó, ijesztően, félelmetesen
A2
1
ijesztő
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is scary; a scary [thing/event]
That horror film was so scary that I couldn’t sleep afterward.
Az a horrorfilm annyira ijesztő volt, hogy utána nem tudtam aludni.
Walking alone down that dark, empty street felt really scary.
Nagyon ijesztő érzés volt egyedül végigmenni azon a sötét, kihalt utcán.
He wore a scary mask to the Halloween party and made the kids scream.
The roller coaster looks scary, but it’s actually a lot of fun.
The idea of losing my job is scary, so I’ve started saving more money.
Learner examples
The movie was very scary for the children.
A film nagyon ijesztő volt a gyerekeknek.
It is scary to fly in a storm.
Viharban repülni ijesztő.
She told a scary story about a ghost.
That dog looks scary when it barks.
The dark room was scary for him.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "scary" and "scared". Use "scary" for the thing that causes fear ("The movie is scary"), and "scared" for the person who feels fear ("I am scared"). Saying "I am scary" usually means other people are afraid of you, not that you feel afraid. Another mistake is using "scary of": say "I am scared of spiders" or "Spiders are scary", not "I am scary of spiders".
Meaning
causing fear; frightening
Collocations
scary movie
|scary story
|really scary
|pretty scary
|scary clown
|scary experience
Synonyms
frightening (Very close in meaning, slightly more formal or neutral in tone.)
|
terrifying (Stronger than "scary"; suggests very intense fear.)
|
spooky (Often used for quiet, strange, or ghost-like things; can sound a bit playful.)
Antonyms
reassuring (Describes something that makes you feel safe or calm, the opposite emotional effect of scary.)
|
comforting (Gives a feeling of warmth or safety instead of fear.)
Themes
emotions
|entertainment
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Making you feel afraid or full of fear.
Causing people to feel afraid, shocked, or suddenly full of fear.
B1
2
aggasztó
B1
Usage pattern:
scary [fact/number/trend]; it is scary that [clause]
It’s scary how quickly housing prices are rising in this city.
Aggasztó, milyen gyorsan emelkednek a lakásárak ebben a városban.
Those are scary statistics about climate change and heat waves.
Ezek aggasztó statisztikák az éghajlatváltozásról és a hőhullámokról.
The doctor said my blood pressure was at a scary level for someone my age.
It’s scary to think how dependent we are on our phones now.
The idea of so many jobs being replaced by AI is a little scary.
Learner examples
The news about the virus was scary for many people.
A vírusról szóló hírek sok ember számára aggasztóak voltak.
Those numbers are scary when you think about the future.
Ezek a számok aggasztóak, ha a jövőre gondolunk.
It is scary to know that many animals may disappear.
His debt is scary because he cannot pay it back.
The doctor said my test results were a bit scary.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only words like "bad" or "serious" for dangerous situations and do not realize that "scary" is often used for statistics, news, and trends that cause strong worry (e.g., "scary numbers", "a scary increase"). Also, avoid saying "scary of"; use patterns like "It is scary that…" or "That number is scary."
Meaning
worrying because dangerous or serious
Collocations
scary statistics
|scary numbers
|scary trend
|scary high
|scary level
|scary moment
Synonyms
alarming (Focuses on the shock and need for attention; often used in news or formal writing.)
|
worrying (Softer and more general; less intense than "scary".)
Antonyms
reassuring (Makes you feel less worried, removing the sense of danger or threat that "scary" suggests.)
Themes
emotions
|news
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Making you feel very worried because it seems dangerous or very bad.
Describing facts, numbers, situations, or possibilities that cause strong worry because they suggest real danger, risk, or serious problems.
B2
INFORMAL
3
ijesztően
B2
félelmetesen
B2
Usage pattern:
scary [adjective]
She’s scary smart for someone her age.
A korához képest ijesztően okos.
That new player is scary good; he scored three goals in ten minutes.
Az az új játékos félelmetesen jó; tíz perc alatt három gólt szerzett.
The computer is scary fast compared to my old one.
His memory is scary good—he never forgets a detail.
The storm moved in scary fast, and we barely had time to get inside.
Learner examples
That singer is scary good for a teenager.
Az az énekes tinédzser létére félelmetesen jó.
My friend is scary smart; she never gets a bad grade.
A barátnőm ijesztően okos; soha nem kap rossz jegyet.
This new phone is scary fast.
His English is scary good after just one year.
The car is scary fast on the highway.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "scary good" or "scary smart" mean both good and frightening in a literal way. In this informal use, "scary" mainly works like a very strong "very" or "really" and is not about real fear. It is also only used before another adjective ("scary good", not "The singer is scary" in this sense).
Meaning
extremely, to a shocking degree
Collocations
scary good
|scary smart
|scary fast
|scary strong
|scary talented
Synonyms
extremely (A neutral adverb; does not carry the playful or slightly dark tone that "scary" has.)
|
insanely (Informal intensifier similar in tone; often interchangeable with this sense of "scary".)
Antonyms
slightly (Downplays degree instead of intensifying it, the opposite function of this use of "scary".)
Themes
informal
|emotions
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used before another adjective to mean "very, very" in a surprising or almost frightening way.
Used before another adjective to emphasize that something is extremely or surprisingly good, strong, or intense, in a way that almost feels frightening.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scary
IPA
GB/skˈɛɹi/
US/skˈɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
scary (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (scary)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: scary
- Comparative: scarier
- Superlative: scariest
Word family
Forms
scarier
adjective
scariest
adjective
Core family
scare
verb A2
scared
adjective
Related words
scariness
noun
scarily
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unscary
adjective
Expressions
scary good
1/skˈɛɹi ɡˈʊd/
fixed phrase
informal
extremely and surprisingly good
So good that it is surprising or almost frightening how good it is (used in an informal, playful way).
Examples
- This pizza is scary good; I could eat the whole thing.
- Her piano playing is scary good for someone so young.
- The special effects in that film were scary good.
scary movie
1/skˈɛɹi mˈuvi/
fixed phrase
a frightening film
A film that is made to make people feel afraid.
Examples
- We watched a scary movie last night and I had nightmares.
- She refuses to see scary movies because they make her too nervous.
- They put on a scary movie for Halloween.
scary story
1/skˈɛɹi stˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
a frightening story
A story that is told to make people feel afraid.
Examples
- He told a scary story about a house full of ghosts.
- The children asked their grandmother for a scary story before bed.
- Around the campfire, they shared scary stories in the dark.