Some great examples are 'cackle' which can be used for an evil laugh. 'Maleficent' for a character with bad intentions. 'Shriek' is a good word for a sudden, scary sound. Also, 'dread' can be used to describe the feeling of the characters or the mood of the story.
Some excellent vocabulary words could be 'haunted', 'macabre', and 'ominous'. 'Haunted' immediately brings to mind a place or person with a spooky past. 'Macabre' is related to death and the gruesome, which is perfect for adding a touch of horror. 'Ominous' creates a feeling of impending doom, which is very effective in a scary story.
Words like 'gloom', 'eerie', and 'creepy' are great. 'Gloom' sets a dark and depressing atmosphere. 'Eerie' gives that feeling of something not quite right, like an empty, old house at night. 'Creepy' is more about making the skin crawl, for example, a strange figure lurking in the shadows.
Words like 'ghost', 'haunted', 'darkness', 'creepy' are important. For example, 'ghost' is often used to represent the supernatural entity in scary stories, which can create a spooky atmosphere immediately.
Words like 'haunted', 'gloomy', 'eerie' are great for a scary story. 'Haunted' gives the idea of a place or object being inhabited by spirits. 'Gloomy' sets a dark and depressing mood, making the reader feel uneasy. 'Eerie' often implies something strange and a bit frightening that can't be easily explained.
For instance, 'In the dead of night, the phone rang. Its shrill sound cut through the silence like a knife. But when she picked it up, there was only a deep, raspy breathing on the other end.' The late - night call and the strange breathing create a sense of mystery and fear.
A story about a friendly ghost in an old house could be a 'scary not scary' story. The idea of a ghost is often scary, but if it's just a friendly spirit that helps the living, it's not so frightening. For example, it might warn the homeowners of a coming danger like a gas leak.
One example could be a werewolf that lurks in the school basement. At night, when the janitor is alone cleaning, he hears strange growls. As he turns around, he catches a glimpse of a large, hairy figure with glowing eyes. Another could be a werewolf student who transforms during a full moon in the middle of a school dance, causing chaos and fear among the students.
One could be 'The howling wind outside was the only sound, but it felt like it was carrying a dark secret.'
One example could be 'Darkness, footsteps, fear.' Another might be 'Cursed, mirror, death.' And also 'Alone, attic, scream.'
One example could be 'Courage the Cowardly Dog'. The show had many spooky episodes based on true elements like strange creatures in rural areas. It often involved Courage facing terrifying situations in his attempt to protect his owners from the unknown, which was really scary.