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

Among those released is Rojas, a journalist, social activist and human rights defender who described painful episodes during his 21 months in prison in Venezuela’s fearsome center for political prisoners, El Helicoide. —Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026

However, the fact that early Cretaceous tracks have been found in both the Brenton and Robberg Formations proves that further investigation might reveal that the monumental disaster did not extinguish these beloved and fearsome dinosaurs, at least, not yet. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026

Lee and Fland are improving, while the Gators’ fearsome frontcourt has finally started taking over games. —Brendan Marks, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Bain and Mesidor were the nation’s most fearsome defensive duo this year. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 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