“Scary” vs. “Spooky”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “scary” and “spooky”

  • "Scary" is related to fear and horror, while "spooky" is associated with mystery and uncertainty.
  • Something that is "scary" is more likely to elicit a physical or visceral response like screaming or running away, while something that is "spooky" is more likely to elicit a psychological or emotional response like feeling uneasy or creeped out.
  • Scary things tend to be explicitly frightening, while spooky things can be subtle or ambiguous in their eeriness.
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What is the definition of “scary” and “spooky”?

Scary
  • "Scary" refers to something that is frightening or causing horror.
  • It can evoke fear or anxiety in a person.
  • Common examples of scary things include horror movies, haunted houses, or violent crimes.
Spooky
  • "Spooky" describes something that is strange, eerie, or supernatural.
  • It can create an unsettling feeling of uncertainty or unease in a person.
  • Typical examples of spooky things include ghost stories, mysterious occurrences, or unexplained phenomena.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Scary” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Scary
259,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The haunted house was so scary that I screamed.
  2. I was too scared to go outside after hearing the news.
  3. The horror movie was incredibly scary, even for someone who watches them regularly.
Spooky
75,500,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The old abandoned mansion looked very spooky in the moonlight.
  2. The dense fog made the forest look even spookier than usual.
  3. The strange noises coming from the attic were spooky enough to make me shiver.
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