脅かす (odokasu) means “frighten” | MotiTan Japanese Dictionary

More examples

友達を後ろから脅かしました。tomo dachi o ushi ro ka ra obiya ka shi ma shi ta

I frightened my friend from behind.

Describes causing another person or animal to feel fear, whether through a sudden event or deliberate action.

驚かすodorokasu: To make a person or animal suddenly feel surprised or afraid.
脅すodosu: To make someone fear harm by using a threat.

人や動物に恐怖を感じさせる。hito ya dō butsu ni kyō fu o kan ji sa se ru

The native verb 脅かす (odokasu, "to frighten") is traditionally analyzed as 脅く (odoku, "to become frightened") plus the causative-forming suffix -asu.

The spelling 脅かす (odokasu) can also represent おびやかす (obiyakasu, "to threaten or endanger"), which has a different reading and meaning.