Asustado vs. temeroso vs. aterrado vs. espantado vs. aterrorizado vs. atemorizado
The Spanish language has a rich vocabulary for expressing various levels of fear, from mild to extreme. All these words are related to fear and being frightened: asustado, temeroso, aterrado, espantado, aterrorizado and atemorizado, but each carries a slightly different connotation.
Asustado
A2Asustado is used to express a sudden fright or scare.
El ruido de los fuegos artificiales lo ha dejado asustado.
(The noise of the fireworks scared him.)
Temeroso
B1Temeroso indicates fear that is more continuous and constant, not instantaneous, often due to anticipation of danger or harm.
Su hijo es muy temeroso de la oscuridad.
(Her son is very fearful of the dark.)
Aterrado
B1Aterrado is used when expressing extreme fear, panic or fright. It often communicates a feeling of terror.
Estaba tan aterrada que no podía moverme.
(I was so terrified I couldn't move.)
Espantado
B1Espantado indicates being scared in a surprising way.
Quedó espantado al ver el fantasma.
(He was shocked when he saw the ghost.)
Aterrorizado
B2Aterrorizado is used when the level of fear is very high; it suggests horror and a sense of being terrorized.
El niño se quedó aterrorizado después de la película de miedo.
(The kid was terrified after the horror movie.)
Atemorizado
B2Atemorizado indicates being terrified or frightened to the point where one may feel paralyzed by this fear.
Las noticias sobre el terremoto dejaron a la ciudadanía atemorizada.
(The news about earthquake left the citizens terrified.)
Summary
In summary, while all these words carry the general meaning of scared or frightened, they each depict different intensities and contexts related to how immediate, persistent, or severe the fear is.