* Scare: This implies a sudden, short-lived feeling of fear. It's often used in the context of a specific event or situation. For example: "The loud noise scared me."
* Frighten: This implies a stronger, more lasting feeling of fear. It can be used in situations where someone is genuinely terrified. For example: "The horror movie frightened the children."
In short: "Scare" is a lighter term, while "frighten" is more intense.
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:
* Scare: "The sudden flash of lightning scared me."
* Frighten: "The haunted house frightened me so badly that I couldn't sleep for days."
You could use "scare" in place of "frighten" in some contexts, but "frighten" implies a more profound fear.