Synonyms of afraid

afraid

adjective

ə-ˈfrād 

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

• scared
• frightened
• terrified
• fearful
• horrified
• alarmed
• shocked
• worried
• upset
• spooked
• hysteric
• aghast
• startled
• nervous
• affrighted
• scary
• anxious
• panicked
• apprehensive
• timid
• appalled
• terrorized
• hysterical
• disturbed
• horror-struck
• wary
• timorous
• shrinking
• panicky
• shy
• agitated
• perturbed
• phobic
• intimidated
• uneasy
• disquieted
• cautious
• careful
• fainthearted
• disconcerted
• coward
• tremulous
• dismayed
• daunted
• jumpy
• jittery
• cowardly
• fearsome
• cowed
• chicken
• funky
• unnerved
• skittish
• craven
• panic-stricken
• pusillanimous
• gutless
• unadventurous
• tremulant
• heedful
• prudent
• lily-livered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unafraid
• fearless
• daring
• adventurous
• brave
• bold
• spirited
• audacious
• sure
• courageous
• venturesome
• gutsy
• confident
• adventuresome
• daredevil
• plucky
• hardy
• dashing
• spunky
• valiant
• heroic
• intrepid
• collected
• composed
• stout
• gallant
• assured
• stalwart
• cool
• venturous
• valorous
• sanguine
• unperturbed
• resolute
• undaunted
• dauntless
• stouthearted
• heroical
• manful
• lionhearted

Synonym Chooser

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

Examples of afraid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So don’t be afraid of the moments where life asks you to step down from the seat of the teacher and into the seat of a student again. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2024

Rather than being afraid of ghosts, she’s fascinated by them, and sees death as the only way to extricate herself from her miserable life. —Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2024

Having a client who isn’t afraid of color is a treat for most designers. —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 21 Aug. 2024

That’s just because of how Donahue was not afraid to tackle any subject. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2024