fearful

[ feer-fuhl ]

adjective

1. causing or apt to cause fear; frightening:

   a fearful apparition.

2. feeling fear, dread, apprehension, or solicitude:

   fearful for his life.

   Synonyms: worried, concerned, anxious, solicitous, distrustful, uneasy, apprehensive, timorous, timid, afraid

3. full of awe or reverence:

   fearful of the Lord.

4. showing or caused by fear:

   fearful behavior exhibited by dogs in the animal shelter.

5. extreme in size, intensity, or badness: fearful poverty.

   a fearful head cold;

   fearful poverty.

fearful

/ ˈfɪəfʊl /

adjective

1. having fear; afraid
2. causing fear; frightening
3. informal.
   very unpleasant or annoying

   a fearful cold

Derived Forms

• ˈfearfulness, noun

Other Words From

• fear·ful·ly adverb
• fear·ful·ness noun
• un·fear·ful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fearful¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ferful(l); fear, -ful

Example Sentences

Barnett is fearful that Trump’s plans for Social Security will deprive him of the little money he has left to survive.

From Salon

While activists and their communities are fearful for the future, they remain determined in their ability to affect change and hopeful the solidarity they've built under the Biden administration will be enough to sustain it.

From Salon

He was hesitant and fearful of the young marauder.

From BBC

These larger engrams produced generalized fearful memories that were retrieved even in safe situations.

From Science Daily

He now tries to avoid supermarkets, with the incident leaving him feeling "anxious and fearful".

From BBC

Related Words

• afraid
• agitated
• anxious
• frightened
• hesitant
• jittery
• nervous
• panicky
• scared
• shy
• skittish
• tense
• timid
• uneasy