Synonym Chooser

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

The words apprehensive and fearful are common synonyms of afraid. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," 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 afraid?

The words apprehensive and afraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

When can fearful be used instead of afraid?

The meanings of fearful and afraid largely overlap; however, fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

Examples of afraid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Witches of Eastwick came out during the height of Satanic panic, a time when people were truly afraid of devil-worshipping cults. Ivana Rihter, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024 Many people are afraid of the capabilities of AI and the dangers of online interaction, which was proven by the Ashley Madison case. Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 My biggest piece of advice to young women, and really to anyone entering the industry, is simple: don’t be afraid to try. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024 In the summer, revel in the bounty of flowers and a range of colors, but when the cold weather sets in, don’t be afraid to let your home reflect the austere beauty of winter. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for afraid 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'afraid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near afraid

Cite this Entry

“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on afraid

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