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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 yet, thematically, the book linked Klassen to a long line of children’s authors, including Edward Gorey and the Brothers Grimm, who were not afraid of nursery noir. — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026 At its core, rock & roll represents a rejection of the status quo — a rebellion against the establishment that isn’t afraid to get loud and cause a little chaos. — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 Last season, defenses weren’t afraid of the Patriots’ wide receivers. — Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Savannah Guthrie isn't afraid of a last-minute wardrobe change. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for afraid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid

Adjective

The Cubs haven’t been scared of taking pitchers who have had that procedure in their history or even missing some of their draft year because of it.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
This result, though—an impotent, scared team that is clearly not ready for the moment—feels like two steps forward and one very large step back.

— Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of scared

Adjective

The bear, seemingly frightened, quickly turns away from the boy and continues running, sliding under a boat parked in the driveway.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026
In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.

— ANDREA SACHS THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

On the 14th floor, three of them broke into Ojeda’s apartment, handcuffed him in front of his terrified wife and son, and dragged him out, according to court documents and security video.

— Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 10 July 2026
Outrage continues to grow after a drone was reported stalking a terrified wild mustang on North Carolina’s northern Outer Banks.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026

Definition of terrified

Adjective

With many fearful for their safety as US bombs fell from Iran’s nighttime skies with no warning, there was far more open hostility on the street.

— Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Neighbors feel less safe with ICE around The latest incident has angered the Latino community in Houston and has left others fearful.

— Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 10 July 2026

Definition of fearful

Adjective

The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.

— Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 June 2026
As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.

— Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026

Definition of horrified

Adjective

But city officials don’t seem alarmed, saying that the project’s size was bound to change, and that the project is still aligned with the city code.

— Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
His long white oval scleras and perfect-circle black pupils, sometimes open and sometimes closed, are always inexplicably expressive—managing to seem happy, sad, scared, sleepy, shifty, angry, eager, alarmed, mischievous, or murderous.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

The first season ended with a big cliffhanger, in which Cooper emerged from a cocoon after a transformation to a shocked reaction though his appearance was not revealed.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 July 2026
In Atlanta last week, Mohamed Salah and his Egypt team-mates walked out of the stadium in shocked silence.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of shocked

Adjective

The 18-year-old was sent to Adelanto ICE Detention Center in handcuffs, nearly a hundred miles away from his worried family members.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Holmes is worried about old shingles and tiles in construction material that could have asbestos leaking into the water supply.

— Mary Ella Hastings July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of afraid

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