1
as in formidable
causing fear
at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed
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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst
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3
as in timid
easily frightened
the more fearsome of the two children would only peer at the guests from a distance
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fearsome
Those who were with him in his final hour felt the positivity permeating from the once fearsome edge rusher.
—
Devon Henderson, New York Times, 14 June 2026
The sandstone lintel, showing a fearsome dragon with human arms emerging from lush foliage, once adorned the entrance to an early Khmer sanctuary.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
And its demise was clearly the handiwork of that fearsome galactic wind.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026
Two women on opposite sides of the law, one black, one white, who come together to bring down the mob and the most fearsome mobster, Lucky Luciano.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fearsome
Devon Henderson, New York Times, 14 June 2026
The sandstone lintel, showing a fearsome dragon with human arms emerging from lush foliage, once adorned the entrance to an early Khmer sanctuary.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
And its demise was clearly the handiwork of that fearsome galactic wind.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026
Two women on opposite sides of the law, one black, one white, who come together to bring down the mob and the most fearsome mobster, Lucky Luciano.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fearsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearsome
Adjective
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More than 30 years ago, Anna and her manager and trusted companion, Betsy Samson (a formidable Denise Burse), fled to Europe on the heels of a highbrow scandal.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Sure, Carpenter’s cut-the-ruggers are pizzazzing with their flips and cartwheels, but the Grande gang make formidable dance foes in the Sharks and Jets sense of the word.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, board responsibilities, and intense scrutiny.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
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Within the hour, all firefighters were called off the roof and out of the building because of the danger posed by the intense flames and the ammonia leak.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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That might sound too timid in 2026, too reserved for a time when rights are being rolled back every day, and Gauthier recorded a much more direct version of the song late last year.—
Stephen Deusner,
SPIN,
15 June 2026
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And despite a timid political opening that has allowed the return of several opposition leaders and the emergence of others from hiding, over 400 political prisoners remain in custody as of May 25, according to figures compiled by the NGO Foro Penal.—
Alfredo Meza,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
This terrifying, wondrous circle spinning around us here on Earth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 June 2026
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What would be terrifying is to not have that opportunity.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Despite a few glimmers of good feeling, today's fierce political divisions have redefined a milestone that has often been marked by unity and optimism, at least for a moment.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
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An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.—
Valerie Gonzalez,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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There were some scary moments at the nest earlier in the spring when viewers watched one of the eaglets, then just named USS 11, swallow a fishhook.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
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Exciting but scary findings During another of the key microplastics studies published so far, researchers at the University of Rhode Island tested mice that had been modified to include a gene, APOE4, linked to Alzheimer’s disease.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier movie versions have managed the story’s most frightening moments with the limited technology available at the time—much plastic and spongy stuff; monsters in process shots looming over little men; papier-mâché boulders flung from hilltops.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
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Even more frightening, the percentage exceeded 50% in many groups, including insects, terrestrial vertebrates, and marine species.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 June 2026
Adjective
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There’s nothing like an invasive hours-long aesthetic procedure with anesthesia to justify intensive pampering.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2026
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Governments and energy-intensive firms will look at electrification with newfound interest.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fearsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearsome. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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