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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of afraid
Forty-four years ago today, people who were already afraid of cities got the scare of their lives with the release of Escape From New York, John Carpenter's carceral fantasy starring an eyepatch-wearing Kurt Russell doing battle against anarchic hordes in a chaotic urban environment.
—
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Joseph encouraged other possible survivors who may have been afraid to report Duran because of his position as a police officer to come foward.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
While the traditional ring bearer is always a cute addition to your wedding party, don’t be afraid to swap in an alternative that feels right for your ceremony.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 July 2025
If people are afraid to even go to the grocery store, movie theaters are certainly not a priority.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Joseph encouraged other possible survivors who may have been afraid to report Duran because of his position as a police officer to come foward.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
While the traditional ring bearer is always a cute addition to your wedding party, don’t be afraid to swap in an alternative that feels right for your ceremony.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 July 2025
If people are afraid to even go to the grocery store, movie theaters are certainly not a priority.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
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An officer said the man was dehydrated, confused and scared when he was rescued, according to WBZ.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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All small business owners suffer financially when their employees are taken or too scared to come to work.—
Billal Rahman
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Audience noises at the NRG Stadium in Houston went from frightened gasps to applause as the descent was completed.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
29 June 2025
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Things were hectic in the mall, Stain, 45, said, with lots of frightened people running to the exits.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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The restaurant industry — which has long maintained a status quo of hiring immigrants — is finding creative solutions to support fearful staff.—
Karla Marie Sanford,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2025
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In Jewish Insider, Gabby Deutsch talks to the Democrats who are fearful about what the Mamdani win means.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Just like Netanyahu manufactured this war to destroy diplomacy, the world should be highly alarmed about increasing attempts by the failing Israeli regime to get others to bail it out and to expand the flames to the region and beyond.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
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And when the internet bloomed, people grew alarmed that easy access to information would erode our capacity for concentration and contemplation.—
Robert B. Tucker,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The season 26 veto meeting when Tucker chooses not to save himself and instead saves a shocked Angela.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
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The reason people are so shocked about all this is not many 'Christians' and even 'pastors' actually believe the Bible.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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But even in a Congress filled with newcomers, the memory of 2018 (and its electoral fallout for a beleaguered GOP) should be fresh enough to keep people worried.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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As Republicans work to pass President Donald Trump's reconciliation bill by his July 4 deadline, many are worried about the changes that could be coming to Medicaid.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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