scare

(noun) sudden mass fear and anxiety over anticipated events. Synonyms: panic. Examples: "Panic in the stock market." "A war scare." "A bomb scare led them to evacuate the building."

(noun) a sudden attack of fear. Synonyms: panic attack.

(verb) cause fear in. Synonyms: frighten, fright, affright. Examples: "The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me." "Ghosts could never affright her."

(verb) cause to lose courage. Synonyms: daunt, dash, scare off, pall, frighten off, scare away, frighten away. Examples: "Dashed by the refusal."