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
Eleven years ago, Frankie Grande stood backstage at Broadway Bares, afraid to go onstage.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
The 62-year-old musician and DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, got vulnerable in a new interview on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs series about feeling afraid to perform after getting sober.
—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
My students aren’t afraid of outright rejection — more, of being a source of anxiety or disappointment.
—
Carolyn O'Laughlin,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
Don’t be afraid to go for a statement shoe here; these Chanel-esque slingbacks are great for walking, on top of oozing personality.
—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
The 62-year-old musician and DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, got vulnerable in a new interview on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs series about feeling afraid to perform after getting sober.
—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
My students aren’t afraid of outright rejection — more, of being a source of anxiety or disappointment.
—
Carolyn O'Laughlin,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
Don’t be afraid to go for a statement shoe here; these Chanel-esque slingbacks are great for walking, on top of oozing personality.
—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
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Humans are scared of him, so Nero becomes Rocco’s favorite thief.
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People are very scared of being human.
Adjective
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Rodríguez acknowledged that many remain too frightened to return home even after inspections declared some buildings safe.
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Some days are spent inside an Ebola Treatment Unit caring for patients who are frightened, isolated, and desperately ill.
Adjective
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Campbell found the minister on the ground, terrified and in pain.
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Videos show terrified residents and collapsed buildings across Venezuela as powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck the northern coast of the country.
Adjective
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Many are fearful of being out in places with heightened law enforcement or even sending their children to school.
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Despite a strong climate track record, Starmer had avoided talking much about the issue publicly, fearful of how voters would receive it.
Adjective
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The first police officer on the scene quickly ran back to the station for help, while neighbors calmed the horrified Lizzie.
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As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.
Adjective
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Scenes involving firearms alarmed distributors still grappling with the aftermath of the Columbine massacre, while the film’s October release via Newmarket was further complicated by a trailer prominently featuring an airplane crash just weeks after the September 11 attacks.
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That relationship lasted until 2016, when Mobileye dropped Tesla as a customer after being alarmed that a driver assistance system was being sold to end users as driverless technology.
Adjective
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Pochettino says while making a shocked face.
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Her mom was incredibly proud — and a bit shocked — that a Black man had been elected president.
Adjective
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Now, multiple residents are left worried about what's to come next week with extremely hot temperatures in the forecast.
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With voters nationwide worried about inflation and the rising cost of living, some Californians might feel less inclined to provide full healthcare coverage to those lacking legal status.
Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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