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 But what impressed Macdonald most was that Pritchett wasn’t afraid to join his fellow defensive backs in lowering his shoulder when necessary. — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Verse also hasn’t been afraid to make sure his voice is being heard on the practice field or in the meeting rooms. — Joe Reedy, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026 Both questions matter, but only one survives in an industry afraid of big (and expensive) ideas. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 David was an underdog, often underlooked in the Bay Area music scene, but was never afraid to give free ideas and unwavering support without expectation ever … David and I hustled. — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afraid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid

Adjective

My parents were tense and distracted while my siblings were scared.

— Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
Some of the sellers took a real beating on the way out, because the negative articles were so persuasive and the owners so scared.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of scared

Adjective

Nations are sustained not just by declarations and famous generals, but by less celebrated moments when frightened, exhausted people decide not to give up.

— Harry Ostrer, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Also at top of mind was the film’s sound design, which is deliberately used as another tool to make the audience feel frightened and uncomfortable.

— William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of frightened

Adjective

And some musicians and songwriters are fearful of how these AI deals might affect livelihoods.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
The investigation into Toro follows a complaint from Bigelow that alleges the workplace culture under Toro’s leadership is characterized as oppressive, bullying and fearful, according to the complaint.

— Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of fearful

Adjective

Their Bell helicopters collided midair, sending flaming wreckage above the heads of horrified drivers on the Pasadena Freeway.

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
When Tae-ha starts a fire that erupts into an explosion, a horrified Eun-sae begins to remember her life before amnesia.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrified

Adjective

Going deeper Fortune's Eleanor Pringle reports that debt hawks are increasingly alarmed as the 10-year Treasury yield approaches 5%, warning the move could signal a brewing national debt spiral.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
This week’s soaring temperatures alarmed students and parents of the Torrance Unified School District, where some campuses do not have air conditioning.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

My conversations and research left me much less shocked at that statistic that had sent chills down my spine a few weeks prior.

— Luba Kassova, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
There’ll still be conversations surrounding the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and most of us anticipate a lot of shocked reactions from those learning when our birthdays and wedding anniversaries take place.

— Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of shocked

Adjective

Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Los Angeles’ identity and workers’ livelihoods are at stake, say worried residents who fear that Paramount will leave the state.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of afraid

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