verb
to strike or to fill with fear or dread
the puppy was frightened by the unfamiliar noises
Synonyms: affright, alarm, awe, fright, scare, ||spook, startle, terrify, terrorize
Related Word: appall, astound, daunt, disconcert, dismay, faze, horrify, shock; demoralize, unman, unnerve; browbeat, bulldoze, cow, intimidate; agitate, discompose, disquiet, perturb, upset
Idioms: curdle the blood, curl the hair, freeze the blood, frighten one out of one's wits, give one a scare, give one a turn, make one's blood run cold, make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's teeth chatter, make one tremble, put one's heart in one's mouth, scare hell out of, scare one spitless, scare one stiff, scare the life out of, scare the pants off of, scare to death, strike terror into, take one's breath away
Contrasted words: embolden, encourage, hearten, reassure