Make the sentences vivid. Don't just say 'It was scary.' Instead, say something like 'The walls seemed to ooze a dark liquid that smelled of decay, and the air was filled with a deathly silence.' Vivid descriptions make the horror more palpable to the reader.
One way is to use them sparingly. For example, if you constantly use the word 'terrifying' throughout the story, it loses its impact. Instead, save it for the most crucial and hair - raising moments. Another tip is to pair the scary words with vivid descriptions. If you say 'the ominous forest', then describe the dark, twisted trees and the strange sounds coming from within.
One effective way to use scary words in a horror story is to create a contrast. For example, use a seemingly innocent word like 'doll' and then add a scary adjective like 'cursed'. This creates a sense of the familiar being turned into something terrifying. Also, use the scary words to create a sense of mystery. Instead of immediately revealing what the 'sinister' presence is, keep the readers guessing. This will make them more engaged and more frightened as they anticipate what might be lurking in the shadows.
One way is to build up suspense. Start with a mild scary phrase like 'An odd feeling crept over me' and then gradually increase the intensity with phrases such as 'The malevolent presence grew stronger, its cold breath on my neck'. Also, use them to describe the setting. If your story is set in a haunted mansion, use phrases like 'The cobweb - covered corridors were filled with a deathly silence'.
Use them sparingly. For example, if you constantly use 'terrifying' every other sentence, it loses its impact. Instead, sprinkle them in at key moments. Say you describe a character entering a dark forest. You could start with 'eerie' to set the mood. Then, when a strange noise is heard, use 'creepy'.
Use them sparingly. For example, if you keep saying 'A terrifying figure lurked everywhere', it loses its impact. Instead, place it at key moments like when the protagonist is about to open a mysterious door. So you can write 'As she reached for the doorknob, a terrifying figure lurked in the shadows just beyond her vision'.
Use them as a starting point. For example, if your prompt is a haunted house, start by describing the exterior in a spooky way. Then, introduce the characters who are about to enter it. Just jump right into the action.
One way is to use words that appeal to the senses. For example, words like 'stench' can make the reader almost smell the decay in a horror setting. Another is to use words that create a sense of unease, like 'twitch'. You can also use words that are associated with the unknown or the supernatural, such as 'occult'.
One way is to use them at the right moments. For example, start a story with an 'eerie' description of the setting to immediately set the mood. If you want to introduce a character, describe them as 'sinister' to make the reader wary of them.
Use them to set the mood. For example, if your opening sentence is 'The storm raged outside, battering the windows of the small cottage.', it immediately creates a mood of danger and isolation.
Use them sparingly at first to build tension. For example, start with a simple 'eerie' feeling in the description of a setting. Then gradually introduce more intense words like 'sinister' as the story progresses.