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

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

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

But, undoubtedly, the bigger splash would be trading for a thumper like Devers, who can belt 30 HRs and elevate the team’s lineup to fearsome status. —Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

Angelo lives two totally separate lives — fearsome NYC hitman and sleepy upstate Cooperstown photocopier salesman and father. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2025

Still, the story of the brave, unarmed bishop who saved his city from the fearsome warrior endured. —Alison Hudson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2025

This sequel follows a scientist, Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga), and her daughter Madison (Millie Bobby Brown), whose kaiji studies are disrupted by the arrival of a fearsome eco-terrorist (Charles Dance) who wants to unleash monsters on the entire world. —EW.com, 8 May 2025

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