afraid

[ uh-freyd ]

adjective

1. feeling fear; filled with apprehension:

   afraid to go.

   Synonyms: timorous, timid, apprehensive, fearful, scared

   Antonyms: fearless, confident, bold

2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like:

   I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

3. feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like:

   He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

afraid

/ əˈfreɪd /

adjective

1. often foll by of feeling fear or apprehension; frightened

   he was afraid of cats

2. reluctant (to do something), as through fear or timidity

   he was afraid to let himself go

3. often foll bythat; used to lessen the effect of an unpleasant statement regretful

   I'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go

Other Words From

• half-a·fraid adjective
• una·fraid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

Variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

C14: affraied, past participle of affray (to frighten)

Synonym Study

Afraid, alarmed, frightened, terrified all indicate a state of fear. Afraid implies inner apprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark. Alarmed implies that the feelings are aroused through realization of some imminent or unexpected danger to oneself or others: alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness. Frightened means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, especially that arising from apprehension of physical harm: frightened by an accident. Terrified suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear: terrified by an earthquake.

Example Sentences

“I think because I’m always dealing with ambiguous emotions, I’ve always been afraid of music tipping the balance in one direction or being too histrionic or too sentimental.”

From Los Angeles Times

They were too afraid and intimidated, or they thought they wouldn’t be believed, or they thought Trump would sue them for defamation if they told anyone.

From Salon

“It’s been very obvious in pickup before the season. In training camp, thus far in games, he’s got no fear. He’s not afraid of the moment. That was a show that he put on.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I'm not afraid of you," she went on to say, then swore at the billionaire, who owns Tesla and social media platform X.

From BBC

"As to why it's happening, I'm afraid I can't answer," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• frightened
• nervous
• scared
• shocked
• suspicious
• timid