AFRAID Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'afraid' different from other adjectives like it?

The words apprehensive and fearful are common synonyms of afraid . While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance. // afraid to speak the truth

Q: When is it sensible to use 'apprehensive' instead of 'afraid'?

The words apprehensive and afraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger. // apprehensive of being found out

Q: When can 'fearful' be used instead of 'afraid'?

The meanings of fearful and afraid largely overlap; however, fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament. // the child is fearful of loud noises

afraid

adjective

ə-ˈfrād

Definition of afraid

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

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How is the word afraid different from other adjectives like it?

The words apprehensive and fearful are common synonyms of afraid. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

When is it sensible to use apprehensive instead of afraid?

The words apprehensive and afraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

When can fearful be used instead of afraid?

The meanings of fearful and afraid largely overlap; however, fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

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 And their classmates who didn’t show up to school because their parents were afraid of being stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Kotb has spoken out about not being afraid of aging in years past. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 This stigma leaves many people feeling immensely ashamed—and often too afraid to talk about their experiences. — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 6 Aug. 2026 Wyatt can’t tell if Alek is brave or just tired of being afraid. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afraid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid

Adjective

Lastly, to dull the war-mongering vigor of the Rivermen, Ormund installs small, scared little boys, ripped from their homes, all along the chemin de ronde — a baby human shield for Ser Daeron the Daring’s great army.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
And feeling so scared and so overwound by the idea that this was going to make or break our career.

— Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of scared

Adjective

Use of QACs soared during the Covid-19 pandemic as frightened masses sanitized themselves and nearly everything else in sight.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Families were frightened, communities were looking for guidance, and clinicians were desperate for answers.

— Ronald Nahass, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

During the attack, terrified students huddled together under their desks, sobbing as gunshots rang out nearby, video filmed inside a classroom and verified by CNN showed.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
At a news conference, Twin Falls police released dramatic surveillance video that showed terrified employees diving for cover and shielding one another.

— Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrified

Adjective

People leaders are increasingly fearful that AI is putting them out of a job, as the number of people working in employment services is down.

— Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
Even Haitians who have been naturalized or hold green cards are keeping a low profile, fearful of being caught in an immigration raid.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of fearful

Adjective

Chan's death comes after celebrity blogger Perez Hilton also alarmed fans on a TikTok livestream when police were called to his home after reports of self-harm.

— Moises Mendez II, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Bullard said after practice that the injury wasn’t anything to be alarmed about.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

Truth is, Westside Cowboy — all of whom are in their early to mid-twenties — are just as worried about it all as anyone else.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026
Buyers were interested but worried about the optics of a show revolving around two wealthy, gallivanting white guys.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of worried

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aforethought

afraid

afreet

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“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of afraid

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