Cool MateFrightened vs Scared
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Frightened
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Scared
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Most common: Scared
| Frightened | Scared | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfraɪtnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfraɪtnd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/skeəd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/skerd/"]/ |
| Meaning | feeling scared or afraid | feeling afraid or frightened |
| Example | The frightened child ran to her mother for comfort. | She was scared of the dark and refused to go into the basement. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, by, of, frightened out of your wits, frightened to death, too frightened (of somebody/something) to do something | be, be running, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, at, of, scared out of your wits, scared stiff, scared to death |
| Antonyms | calm, unafraid, confident | calm, unafraid, confident |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'frightened' with 'frightening'. 'Frightened' describes a feeling, while 'frightening' describes something that causes fear., Using 'frightened' in the wrong tense, like saying 'I frighten' instead of 'I am frightened.', Adding unnecessary prepositions, like saying 'frightened of' instead of just 'frightened.' | Confusing 'scared' with 'scare' — 'scare' is the verb., Using 'scared' without a preposition, like 'scared of the dark.', Saying 'I am scary' instead of 'I am scared.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'frightened' to describe a feeling of fear. It can be used in most contexts. Avoid using in overly casual situations where simpler words like 'scared' might fit better. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. More common in everyday conversation. Avoid using in very serious discussions where more formal terms like 'concerned' might be appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Frightened vs Scared
What's the difference between Frightened and Scared?
Frightened: feeling scared or afraid Scared: feeling afraid or frightened
Which is more common: Frightened and Scared?
Scared is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Frightened and Scared?
Frightened is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Frightened and Scared the same CEFR level?
Frightened: B1, Scared: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Frightened and Scared?
Frightened: adjective, Scared: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Frightened: The frightened child ran to her mother for comfort. Scared: She was scared of the dark and refused to go into the basement.
Can I use Frightened and Scared interchangeably?
Not always. Frightened and Scared are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.