Words such as 'ominous', 'forbidding', and 'sinister' work well. 'Ominous' gives the feeling that something bad is about to happen, like an ominous cloud on the horizon. 'Forbidding' makes a place or situation seem unwelcoming and dangerous. 'Sinister' implies evil or malevolence, for example, a sinister figure in a dark alley.
Some other useful words for scary stories are 'cursed', 'ominous', 'malevolent', and 'sinister'. In a scary story, you could write 'The cursed object in the attic seemed to have a malevolent presence that filled the room with dread.'
In horror stories, words such as 'ominous', 'macabre', and 'grisly' are very useful. 'Ominous' implies that something bad is about to happen. 'Macabre' is related to death and the grotesque, which are common elements in horror. 'Grisly' is used to describe something extremely unpleasant and often related to violence or death, adding a sense of horror to the story.
Use words like 'gloom', 'dread', and 'ominous'. For example, describe a place as 'gloomy' with 'dread' hanging in the air. These words can set a spooky mood quickly.
Use the words to set the mood. For example, if 'foggy' is in the list, start with 'The foggy night made it hard to see.'. Then add a character like 'A lone man was walking'. And introduce something scary using another word like 'dread'. 'He felt a sense of dread as he walked.'.
Using vivid descriptions of the scary things helps too. For instance, 'The monster had eyes that glowed like red hot coals in the pitch - black night. Its breath smelled of decay and death, and its claws were long and sharp, scraping against the stone floor as it moved towards me. By painting a detailed picture, you can really spook your readers.'
Some good words are 'gloom', 'eerie' and 'creak'. 'Gloom' can set a dark and depressing atmosphere. 'Eerie' gives a sense of the uncanny and strange, making the reader feel uneasy. And 'creak', like the sound of an old door in a haunted house, adds a touch of fear as it implies something is about to happen.
Some scary words could be 'haunted', 'gloomy', and 'eerie'. 'Haunted' immediately makes one think of a place filled with ghosts or other supernatural entities. 'Gloomy' gives a sense of darkness and sadness, often associated with foreboding. 'Eerie' is great for creating an atmosphere that is strange and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Some scary titles are 'Midnight's Shadow'. It creates a sense of fear as midnight is often associated with the unknown and things that go bump in the night. 'The Ghostly Gaze' is another one. It makes you wonder what kind of ghost is looking at you and what it might do. Also, 'The Abandoned Asylum' is a classic. Asylums are already creepy, and an abandoned one must be full of terrors.
Surprise is a big element. For example, when you think a character is safe and then suddenly something jumps out at them. It catches the reader or listener off - guard.
The brevity is key. In just two sentences, they create a sense of mystery and fear. For instance, 'The cemetery gate was ajar. Red eyes glowed from behind a tombstone.' It makes your mind fill in the blanks.