fearful

fear·ful

adjective \ˈfir-fəl\

Definition of FEARFUL

1

: causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm especially because of dangerous quality <a fearful storm>

2

a : full of fear <fearful for his safety>

b : indicating or arising from fear <a fearful glance>

c : inclined to fear : timorous

3

: very great or bad —used as an intensive <a fearful waste> <fearful slum conditions>

— fear·ful·ly \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb

— fear·ful·ness \-fəl-nəs\ noun

Examples of FEARFUL

1. He plays the role of a timid and fearful clerk.
2. They won the war but at a fearful cost.

First Known Use of FEARFUL

14th century

Related to FEARFUL

Synonyms

alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying

Antonyms

adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, dashing, gutsy, hardy, venturesome, venturous

Related Words

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening

Synonym Discussion of FEARFUL

fearful, apprehensive, afraid mean disturbed by fear. fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament <the child is fearful of loud noises>. apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger <apprehensive of being found out>. afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance <afraid to speak the truth>.

Rhymes with FEARFUL

cheerful, tearful