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
The show has a cinematic feel, and Gascon is not afraid of keeping the camera still and letting the action play out in front of it.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 June 2025
Damson Idris has never been afraid of a challenge—but F1 may be his most exhilarating yet.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 27 June 2025
So many people now are not afraid anymore and are ready to speak up for themselves.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Yes, every single one of us is afraid of something, even the big, bad Berzatto family, who invade Tiffany and Frank’s wedding for what seems to be season four’s big Bear event episode.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 June 2025
Damson Idris has never been afraid of a challenge—but F1 may be his most exhilarating yet.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 27 June 2025
So many people now are not afraid anymore and are ready to speak up for themselves.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Yes, every single one of us is afraid of something, even the big, bad Berzatto family, who invade Tiffany and Frank’s wedding for what seems to be season four’s big Bear event episode.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
-
With no cell service or any experience with snakes, Wall was scared.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
19 June 2025
-
The story itself is stripped to bone and sinew: a sleepy New England beach town that wants tourist dollars more than truth, an invisible killer in plain water, and three men — one scared sheriff, one cocky scientist, one Ahab of a fisherman — set adrift to settle nature’s score.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, federal authorities are hiding, apparently too frightened of online provocateurs and in-person hecklers to do their duty in plain sight.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
-
Others who live close to the jail were downright frightened.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Fed officials have been reluctant to move, fearful that tariffs Trump implemented this year could cause inflation in the coming months.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
18 June 2025
-
The law was blocked by a judge, but Martinez said some workers and companies are still hesitant and fearful of enforcement.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Inheriting the mantle from Pope Francis, who grew increasingly alarmed by AI's societal risks, Leo is pressing for stronger global governance and ethical oversight of the technology.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
19 June 2025
-
That’s what has safety advocates like O’Dowd so alarmed.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Feel that stretch in your shoulders, and in your capacity to still be shocked, six months into Trump’s second term.—
Jena Friedman,
New Yorker,
25 June 2025
-
Matlin appears shocked but somewhat timid when Hurt, who presented her with the award after winning the previous year's Best Actor statue for Kiss of the Spider Woman, calls and then signs her name.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
And although several college refs are famous and infamous within certain fan bases and leagues, college leaders are worried about backlash toward officials going any further.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
-
This is perhaps the most important reason everyone should be so worried about the Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill.—
Paul Weinstein Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share