as in scared
filled with fear or dread
Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of afraid
There were no elk, deer, or fish who weren’t slightly afraid of him.
—
Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The aftermath has left many business owners afraid to tinker with their SEO, thinking one wrong move could kill their credibility and traffic.
—Nick Zviadadze, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Courtesy of Lillian Zhang Gen Zer Lillian Zhang isn’t afraid of hard work.
—Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
At restaurants, landscaping businesses, farms and stores across Connecticut, undocumented workers are increasingly not showing up, afraid of being seized by federal agents looking to rid the state of immigrants.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The aftermath has left many business owners afraid to tinker with their SEO, thinking one wrong move could kill their credibility and traffic.
—Nick Zviadadze, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Courtesy of Lillian Zhang Gen Zer Lillian Zhang isn’t afraid of hard work.
—Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
At restaurants, landscaping businesses, farms and stores across Connecticut, undocumented workers are increasingly not showing up, afraid of being seized by federal agents looking to rid the state of immigrants.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
-
The guys in there aren’t scared of these challenges.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Things were changing, and people—some people at least—were scared.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But Wall Street doesn't seem as frightened of tariffs anymore.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
-
As of Monday afternoon, Dickson still wasn’t sure whether someone punched through the window, or if her frightened dog, who heard numerous rounds of shots fired throughout the afternoon, tried to break free.—
Sofi Zeman
July 28,
Kansas City Star,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Superficially courteous and casually racist, Jimmer is an old school authority figure, from his wide-brimmed hat to his work boots, and he’s presented as a fearful impediment to Marshall’s mission right from the jump.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Traveling to England, he was incarcerated by a government fearful of seeing their monarchy overthrown at home as abroad.—
Matthew Redmond
August 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Now less alarmed and more reflective, Alaina sees the letters as relics of the house's strange past.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
-
But before the deal was finalized, council members grew alarmed that the company did not seem to have the necessary equipment or subcontracts in place as Super Bowl LIX and the annual Mardi Gras celebrations loomed.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
For the most part, the teens are shocked, often horrified, hearing their mothers use the term when talking directly to their fathers.—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Tony Caba is accused of killing 45-year-old Roberto Cuevas in front of shocked partygoers near Fourth Ave.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, however, didn’t necessarily appear worried when asked what joint practices taught him about his cornerbacks.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Many were worried about stripping precipitation out of a cloud and robbing people downstream of rain.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share