Fear vs. Scared — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
Fear is a noun or verb denoting an unpleasant emotion caused by danger, while scared is an adjective describing the feeling of being frightened.
Difference Between Fear and Scared
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fear is a noun and verb, describing an emotion or the act of being afraid, whereas scared is an adjective, expressing the state of feeling fear.
Fear can refer to a specific phobia or general anxiety, while being scared usually implies a reaction to an immediate threat or situation.
Fear can be deep-seated and complex, influencing behavior over time, while scared often denotes a temporary and immediate emotional response.
Fear is versatile in language, used abstractly or concretely, while scared typically describes a person's immediate emotional state.
Fear has a broader application, extending to concepts or ideas, whereas scared is usually confined to describing reactions to tangible situations.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun, verb
Adjective
Usage
Describes an emotion or act of fearing
Describes the state of feeling fear
Duration
Can be long-term or short-term
Often immediate and temporary
Scope
Broad, can be abstract
Specific, tied to a situation
Expression
Can be deep and complex
Typically a direct, immediate response
Compare with Definitions
Fear
An unpleasant emotion caused by threat.
The fear of heights kept her from climbing.
Scared
Feeling frightened or nervous.
She was scared during the storm.
Fear
A feeling of apprehension or concern.
There's a growing fear of economic downturn.
Scared
Being in a state of alarm.
He got scared when he heard the noise.
Fear
To regard with apprehension.
They fear the unknown.
Scared
Exhibiting symptoms of fear.
The child looked scared in the dark room.
Fear
Fear is an emotion induced by the perception or recognition of phenomena which can pose a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes and therefore may produce behavioral changes, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat.
Scared
Being apprehensive about something.
They were scared about the results.
Fear
A very unpleasant or disturbing feeling caused by the presence or imminence of danger
Our fears intensified as the storm approached.
Scared
Experiencing sudden fear.
I was scared when the lights went out.
Fear
A state or condition marked by this feeling
Living in constant fear of attack.
Saved as much as he could for fear of losing his job.
Scared
To strike with sudden fear; alarm.
Fear
A feeling of disquiet or apprehension
A fear of looking foolish.
Scared
To become frightened
A child who scares easily.
Fear
A reason for dread or apprehension
Being alone is my greatest fear.
Scared
A condition or sensation of sudden fear
That mask gave me a real scare.
Fear
Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a deity.
Scared
A general state of alarm; a panic
A bomb scare that necessitated evacuating the building.
Fear
To be afraid or frightened of
A boy who fears spiders.
Scared
Serving or intended to frighten people
Scare stories.
Scare tactics.
Fear
To be uneasy or apprehensive about
We all feared what we would see when the grades were posted.
Scared
Feeling fear; afraid, frightened.
Fear
To consider probable; expect
I fear you are wrong. I fear I have bad news for you.
Scared
Simple past tense and past participle of scare
Fear
To revere or be in awe of (a deity, for example).
Scared
Made afraid;
The frightened child cowered in the corner
Too shocked and scared to move
Fear
To be afraid
Your injury is minor. Don't fear.
Fear
To be uneasy or apprehensive
We fear for the future of the business.
Fear
(uncountable) A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
He was struck by fear on seeing the snake.
Fear
(countable) A phobia, a sense of fear induced by something or someone.
Not everybody has the same fears.
I have a fear of ants.
Fear
(uncountable) Terrified veneration or reverence, particularly towards God, gods, or sovereigns.
Fear
(transitive) To be afraid of (something or someone); to consider or expect (something or someone) with alarm.
I fear the worst will happen.
Fear
(intransitive) To feel fear.
Never fear; help is always near.
Fear
To worry about, to feel concern for, to be afraid for.
She fears for her son’s safety.
Fear
(transitive) To venerate; to feel awe towards.
People who fear God can be found in Christian churches.
Fear
(transitive) To regret.
I fear I have bad news for you: your husband has died.
Fear
To cause fear to; to frighten.
Fear
To be anxious or solicitous for.
Fear
To suspect; to doubt.
Fear
(dialectal) Able; capable; stout; strong; sound.
Hale and fear
Fear
A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion.
Fear
A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread.
Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.
Where no hope is left, is left no fear.
Fear
Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Being.
I will put my fear in their hearts.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear.
Fear
That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness.
There were they in great fear, where no fear was.
The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise.
Fear
To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Fear
To have a reverential awe of; to be solicitous to avoid the displeasure of.
Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.
Fear
To be anxious or solicitous for; now replaced by fear for.
The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you.
Fear
To suspect; to doubt.
Ay what else, fear you not her courage?
Fear
To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear.
Fear their people from doing evil.
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
Fear
To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil.
I exceedingly fear and quake.
Fear
An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
Fear
An anxious feeling;
Care had aged him
They hushed it up out of fear of public reaction
Fear
A profound emotion inspired by a deity;
The fear of God
Fear
Be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event;
I fear she might get aggressive
Fear
Be afraid or scared of; be frightened of;
I fear the winters in Moscow
We should not fear the Communists!
Fear
Be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement;
I fear I won't make it to your wedding party
Fear
Be uneasy or apprehensive about;
I fear the results of the final exams
Fear
Regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of;
Fear God as your father
We venerate genius
Fear
A phobia or specific anxiety.
He had a fear of spiders.
Fear
The act of being frightened.
She faced her fear and spoke publicly.
Common Curiosities
Is being scared always a short-term feeling?
Mostly, but it can linger in some cases.
Is fear always negative?
Often, but it can also be a protective mechanism.
Can someone be scared without a specific reason?
Yes, sometimes it's a general feeling of unease.
Does 'scared' only refer to physical threats?
No, it can also relate to psychological fears.
Can fear be learned?
Yes, through experiences and observation.
Does fear have different levels?
Absolutely, it ranges from mild to severe.
Can fear be positive?
In some contexts, it can be motivational.
Can animals be scared?
Certainly, it's a common response in many animals.
Is being scared always visible?
Not necessarily, it can be an internal feeling.
Is fear always rational?
No, it can be irrational or disproportionate.
Is fear an instinctual response?
Yes, it's a basic human emotion.
Can fear be overcome?
Often, through various methods like exposure or therapy.
How do cultures view fear?
Attitudes towards fear vary widely among cultures.
Can someone be scared in their sleep?
Yes, through nightmares or night terrors.
Does being scared affect health?
Chronic fear or stress can have health impacts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
