1
as in terrifying
causing fear
the fearful roar of a lion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the fearful wind and cold simply made being outside a miserable experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
fearful of venturing out onto the dark highway, the stranded motorist decided to wait in the car for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 fearful
The novel’s protagonist navigates loss and her own unraveling, fearful of her own floorboards and hating her friends, unable to get a '90s earworm out of her head or discern time and memories.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
But Congress has long blocked that increase from taking effect, with lawmakers from both parties fearful about the political fallout of voting themselves a pay raise.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
And yet, from the beginning, the only people more fearful than Putin of American intervention were Americans.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Too fearful to resist, Liu went along with the arrest, just as the young officer had done before him.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
But Congress has long blocked that increase from taking effect, with lawmakers from both parties fearful about the political fallout of voting themselves a pay raise.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
And yet, from the beginning, the only people more fearful than Putin of American intervention were Americans.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Too fearful to resist, Liu went along with the arrest, just as the young officer had done before him.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearful
Adjective
-
These shifting climates intimately shaped the biosphere over this span (and vice versa), and in occasional terrifying pulses, threatened to end it.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
That was a terrifying last four days.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even Reach's multiplayer took bold new steps, with the introduction of new mechanics and timid moves towards player classes.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The timid girl, the ruffian guy.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Pyongyang has continued to exercise significant control over the population and severely restrict the rights and freedoms of its population, and that has only gotten more intense over the last decade.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This question — which strikes at the heart of a perennial issue in American politics, frequently reignited by recurring mass shootings — sparked an intense partisan divide.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Beck has a fluid, quick throwing motion and isn’t afraid to fit the ball into tight windows.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Luckily, the 2025 Emmys shows us that, now more than ever, men aren’t afraid to show a little personality in their red carpet looks.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The frightening illness took place just two weeks after he was named MVP of his little league baseball team.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As the frightening futures foretold grow nearer, the details are also growing more precise.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Unfortunately, on Wednesday during practice, the Steelers suffered a scary injury.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Life in the camp for the displaced was scary and hard.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Advertisement The flurry of updates came three days after Robinson was arrested following an intensive hunt for Kirk's killer.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Doing this requires massive system level integration and is resource intensive.—
Thomas Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Republicans are frightened, too.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Farima was withdrawn and frightened.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearful. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share