Many words in English have the same or very similar meaning, yet they differ in how they are used. In this article, we will examine the words scared, afraid, frightened, and terrified. They all describe a state of fear or fright and can often be used as synonyms. However, there are some differences between them and they are used in different ways. So, let’s look at these words in detail.

🔹 Afraid

This word has the most general meaning and is often used in everyday life in the direct sense of fear. E.g.:

• Don’t be afraid. 
• Are you afraid of mice? 
• She was afraid to swim.

Note that the expression to be afraid can:

• have an independent meaning «to feel fear» (I’m afraid), 
• be used with the preposition of before a noun or a pronoun (to be afraid of dogs / darkness / war / one’s feelings, etc.) or the preposition to before a verb (to be afraid to drive / go outside / swim, etc.).

Besides, afraid is also often used to express a polite refusal or regret. For example:

• I’m afraid I can’t сome.
• I’m afraid so. / I’m afraid not.

🔹 Scared

This word is used in a more informal context compared to afraid and is more commonly heard in spoken English. The difference from afraid is that scared is used to express a more emotional, and in some ways even childlike, reaction. E.g.:

• They look scared. 
• He’s scared of spiders. 
• What’s the matter? Are you scared? 

Using the word scared when talking about an adult can be perceived as a joke or even mockery as if the person is frightened without any reason. There is even an expression scaredy-cat meaning someone, especially a child, who is easily frightened.

Besides, there are several commonly used idioms with the word scared:

• scared to death 
• scared silly / scared stiff / scared spitless 

The word scared is the past participle of the verb to scare and is used with the preposition of. Therefore, unlike with afraid, a sentence with scare can be constructed in two ways:

• He is scared of thunder. ( = He is afraid of thunder.)
• Thunder scares him.

 🔹 Frightened

The word frightened also means "scared" but it means a deeper, more genuine fear. It originates from the verb to frighten (= to scare). Unlike afraid and scared, frightened is typically used with a specific cause of fear, often introduced by the preposition by:

• We all were frightened by his threats.

Frightened is used to express a state in which a person has been truly and often unexpectedly scared by something. In terms of meaning, frightened is more emotionally intense, more dramatic, and is used in a more formal context than afraid. For example:

• I was so frightened that I couldn’t move. 
• There’s a frightened man outside. 
• She's not frightened of taking risks.
• Don't be frightened to complain if the service is bad.
• I was frightened (that) you would fall.

 🔹 Terrified

Terrified means "very scared" or "in terror" and is used to describe an incredibly intense fear, when a person is literally panicking or horrified. It is an extremely emotional word, much stronger than scared or afraid.

• I’m terrified of going to that castle alone.
• He was terrified at the thought of living without her. 
• She was terrified of spiders.
• I’m terrified to speak in public. 
• They were terrified during the storm. 
• He’s terrified that he’ll fail the exam. 
• The child was terrified when he got lost. 
• She looked terrified when she saw the shadow. 

Although all these words (scared, afraid, frightened, terrified) mean "to feel fear", there are still differences in their use. Let’s briefly summarize them in the table:

Read also: 

• Rules of reading in English
• How to quickly learn and memorize English words
• Selection of online English dictionaries and their useful features

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