fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfir-səm 

1

a

: causing fear

a fearsome monster

b

: intense, extreme

fearsome determination

2

: timid, timorous

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun

Synonyms of fearsome

• formidable
• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating

Examples of fearsome in a Sentence

at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed

after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst

Recent Examples on the Web

The role that artificial intelligence will play in research mathematics has been talked about a fair amount in the past five years, and a fearsome, unbounded amount in the past five months. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026

Ayomukhi is described as an enormous, fearsome figure with a large belly, sharp teeth, and disheveled hair. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Rayan, an imposing 20-year-old winger and another potential superstar-in-the-making, joined from Vasco da Gama only in January but is already in the Brazil squad and is a fearsome opponent to handle. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

The fearsome Inter, the ‘Bank of Italy’ club who had knocked out Real Madrid in the quarters, were to be the opponents in Lisbon. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

fear entry 1 + -some entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfi(ə)r-səm 

1

: causing fear

2

: timid

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun