1
as in terrifying
causing fear
the fearful roar of a lion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in timid
easily frightened
the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us
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3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the fearful wind and cold simply made being outside a miserable experience
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fearful
In other words, Benedict was calling on even regular customers who may be staying away, perhaps fearful of a crush of World Cup fans, to return to the business at 2122 Jefferson St.
—
Eric Adler
june 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Furthermore, Kalambay casts doubt on the idea that Ilunga was fearful for his own or his family’s life.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Fiction can be tempting when facts prove elusive, and Tannahill’s series cherishes dancing between the demanding allure of the unknown and the fearful certainty of what can happen when pursuing it.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Hugh, a veteran of the Great War, is fearful of future violence in Europe, while Edward is hiding his infidelity from his wife, Villy.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Eric Adler
june 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Furthermore, Kalambay casts doubt on the idea that Ilunga was fearful for his own or his family’s life.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Fiction can be tempting when facts prove elusive, and Tannahill’s series cherishes dancing between the demanding allure of the unknown and the fearful certainty of what can happen when pursuing it.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Hugh, a veteran of the Great War, is fearful of future violence in Europe, while Edward is hiding his infidelity from his wife, Villy.
—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearful
Adjective
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This terrifying, wondrous circle spinning around us here on Earth.
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What would be terrifying is to not have that opportunity.
Adjective
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That might sound too timid in 2026, too reserved for a time when rights are being rolled back every day, and Gauthier recorded a much more direct version of the song late last year.
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And despite a timid political opening that has allowed the return of several opposition leaders and the emergence of others from hiding, over 400 political prisoners remain in custody as of May 25, according to figures compiled by the NGO Foro Penal.
Adjective
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Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.
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The president highlighted the military operation in Iran that has proven deeply unpopular, and an immigration agenda that has provoked intense backlash.
Adjective
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That's the part so many seem afraid to say out loud.
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The people who worked for cooperatives were particularly afraid.
Adjective
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Earlier movie versions have managed the story’s most frightening moments with the limited technology available at the time—much plastic and spongy stuff; monsters in process shots looming over little men; papier-mâché boulders flung from hilltops.
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Even more frightening, the percentage exceeded 50% in many groups, including insects, terrestrial vertebrates, and marine species.
Adjective
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There’s nothing like an invasive hours-long aesthetic procedure with anesthesia to justify intensive pampering.
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Governments and energy-intensive firms will look at electrification with newfound interest.
Adjective
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Even young raccoons can bite or scratch when frightened, and wild animals can carry parasites and diseases, says Rakestraw.
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When customers are frustrated, frightened, confused or considering leaving, those become high-risk moments.
Adjective
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There were some scary moments at the nest earlier in the spring when viewers watched one of the eaglets, then just named USS 11, swallow a fishhook.
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Exciting but scary findings During another of the key microplastics studies published so far, researchers at the University of Rhode Island tested mice that had been modified to include a gene, APOE4, linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Cite this Entry
“Fearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearful. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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