fearful

adjective

ˈfir-fəl How to pronounce fearful (audio)
Definition of fearfulnext
1
as in terrifying
causing fear the fearful roar of a lion

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2
as in timid
easily frightened the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us

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3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect the fearful wind and cold simply made being outside a miserable experience

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4
as in afraid
filled with fear or dread fearful of venturing out onto the dark highway, the stranded motorist decided to wait in the car for help

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fearful different from other adjectives like it?

The words afraid and apprehensive are common synonyms of fearful. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

When can afraid be used instead of fearful?

While the synonyms afraid and fearful are close in meaning, afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

When is it sensible to use apprehensive instead of fearful?

The synonyms apprehensive and fearful are sometimes interchangeable, but apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fearful The expressions appear fearful when viewed from below. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025 Many immigrants utilizing PrEP, whether here legally or undocumented, have become fearful of going to clinic appointments for fear of deportation. — Dr. Gary Spinner, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025 Einbinder appeared extremely fearful of addressing anything about being Jewish at this moment. — Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025 Ratliff is a wealthy Southern business mogul confronted by past shady business dealings and fearful that his secrets will come to light and endanger his family, played by Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sam Nivola, and Sarah Catherine Hook. — Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearful
  1. terrifying
  2. timid
  3. intense
  4. afraid
  5. frightening
  6. scary
  7. intensive
  8. frightened
Adjective
  • Tran swears that having a physical manifestation to interact with is why the terrifying sequences work.
    — Simon Thompson, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • But actually just look at it and go, look, this is really, really scary and terrifying.
    — Emily Maddick, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Cheered on by timid bankers who wouldn't risk a lemon in their sparse baskets.
    — Dan Primack, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
  • To say that does not trivialize the Holocaust, as some timid folk insist.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of timid
Adjective
  • Described as the sport world’s equivalent of the Vatican’s conclave voting procedure for a new pope, the election by secret ballot was preceded by intense lobbying campaigns by all the candidates.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Already, court challenges against the president’s latest moves are emerging, and intense mainstream media coverage has, of course, cast what he’s done in a highly negative light.
    — The Editors, National Review, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Go Dark Don't be afraid to add bits of gothic drama to bring a moody, mysterious sense to your home.
    — Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2025
  • However, don’t be afraid to use that monogram from your invitation suite.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of afraid
Adjective
  • While studying a rare species whose mating call appears to be the frightening shrieks the team has been hearing in the woods, the pair hired Kodiak (McHale) as their guide.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Granted that a 1 degree Celsius change in world average temperature can translate into a 4-degree Celsius increase in some of the most climate precarious countries, this last scenario is frightening.
    — Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • There’s a lot to love with Tuten and his ceiling is super high, but the floor is extremely scary because of his fumbles.
    — Steve Bradshaw, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Though these scenes unfold in real time, the narrative as a whole progresses in fits and starts: episodes are separated by days or months, during which Jamie becomes something of a cause célèbre for the internet’s scariest men.
    — Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of scary
Adjective
  • Our only leverage were the ongoing national-level intensive negotiations over the NAFTA environmental side-accords.
    — Serge Dedina, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Finding and synthesizing that data would be both labor intensive and expensive for the district to do itself.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • Inside, the staff scrambles for cover and a frightened woman and child are seen hiding behind a buffet counter.
    — Mark Price, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Staying apolitical in his work, Lynch expressed the personal idiosyncrasy that reflected his upbringing in Midwest America (born in Missoula, Mont., and of Finnish-Danish heritage) as well as his private, frightened knowledge of national terror.
    — Armond White, National Review, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of frightened

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Cite this Entry

“Fearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearful. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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