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

With McCarthy in the concussion protocol, the Vikings turned to Max Brosmer for his first NFL start, and against the Seattle Seahawks' fearsome defense, the undrafted rookie was in a tough spot. —CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025

Maybe the best way to understand the sudden, shocking decline of what annually has been one of college basketball’s most fearsome defenses is to look at points per 100 possessions. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025

More than half his dialogue is in German, and the work powerfully showcases Crowe’s fearsome intensity and depth. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025

Beyond that showcase lies a fearsome stretch — all teams with winning records save the Saints, a team that already upset the Panthers once. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 18 Nov. 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