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Scare vs Alarm - What's the difference?

scare | alarm |

As nouns the difference between scare and alarm

is that scare is a minor fright while alarm is alert, alarm.

As a verb scare

is to frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.

scare

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A minor fright.
  • Johnny had a bad scare last night.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=June 4 , author=Phil McNulty , title=England 2 - 2 Switzerland , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=England were held to a draw after surviving a major scare against Switzerland as they were forced to come from two goals behind to earn a point in the Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.}}
  • A cause of slight terror; something that inspires fear or dread.
  • JM is a scare to the capitalists of this country.

    Synonyms

    * fright

    See also

    * scarecrow

    Verb

  • To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
  • Did it scare you when I said "Boo!"?
  • * (rfdate) (Shakespeare)
  • The noise of thy crossbow / Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.
  • * (The Langoliers)
  • (Laurel Stevenson) Would you please be quiet? You're scaring the little girl.
    (Craig Toomey) Scaring the little girl?! Scaring the little girl?! Lady!

    Synonyms

    * frighten * terrify * See also

    Derived terms

    * bird-scarer * Red scare * scarecrow * scared * scaredy-cat * scaremonger * scare out of one's wits * scarer * scare straight * scare the pants off of

    Anagrams

    * ----

    alarm

    English

    Alternative forms

    * alarum

    Noun

  • A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
  • ''Arming to answer in a night alarm . --Shakespeare.
  • Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
  • ''Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. --Joel ii. 1.
  • A sudden attack; disturbance.
  • * Shakespeare
  • these home alarms
  • * Alexander Pope
  • thy palace fill with insults and alarms
  • Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
  • ''Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp. --.
  • A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.
  • ''The clockradio is a friendlier version of the cold alarm by the bedside
  • An instance of an alarum ringing or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time.
  • ''You should set the alarm on your watch to go off at seven o'clock.

    See also

    * tocsin

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To call to arms for defense
  • To give (someone) notice of approaching danger
  • To rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.
  • To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear.
  • To keep in excitement; to disturb.
  • References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----