scarer

scare  (skâr)

v. scared, scar·ing, scares

v.tr.

To strike with sudden fear; alarm. See Synonyms at frighten.

v.intr.

To become frightened: a child who scares easily.

n.

1. A condition or sensation of sudden fear.

2. A general state of alarm; a panic: a bomb scare that necessitated evacuating the building.

adj.

Serving or intended to frighten people: scare stories; scare tactics.

Phrasal Verb:

scare up Informal

To gather or prepare with considerable effort or ingenuity: managed to scare up some folding chairs for the unexpected crowd.

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[Middle English skerren, scaren, from Old Norse skirra, from skjarr, timid.]

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scarer n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scarer - an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds bird-scarer, scarecrow, straw man, strawman effigy, simulacrum, image - a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture); "the coin bears an effigy of Lincoln"; "the emperor's tomb had his image carved in stone"