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
These are not the words of a Premier League cheerleader, or indeed of someone fearful that English football will be left behind if La Liga and Serie A get their way.
—
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
This hesitancy is common, Travers said, because people may be fearful of being judged or of having their trauma follow them later in life.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Despite being increasingly concerned, the Brobergs waited nearly two weeks to contact authorities, fearful of the public’s reaction to a second disappearance.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Shares of both banks tumbled Thursday, dragging down other lenders along with the broader market, as Wall Street turned fearful about potential threats elsewhere and relived memories of Silicon Valley Bank’s implosion just two years ago.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
This hesitancy is common, Travers said, because people may be fearful of being judged or of having their trauma follow them later in life.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Despite being increasingly concerned, the Brobergs waited nearly two weeks to contact authorities, fearful of the public’s reaction to a second disappearance.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Shares of both banks tumbled Thursday, dragging down other lenders along with the broader market, as Wall Street turned fearful about potential threats elsewhere and relived memories of Silicon Valley Bank’s implosion just two years ago.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearful
Adjective
-
Kim's direction is bold and stylish, and the supernatural scenes are terrifying, embodying the finest that Korean horror has to offer.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
-
By the time it was all set up, the whole cold, disintegrating place was threaded with lights and lines, flickering everywhere, black and red, the sheer quantity somehow terrifying and embracing at once.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Johnson looked timid, unsure against the Warriors, and his shot reflected the lack of confidence.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The students and scholars nurtured in this ancient way will not be timid.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The intense taste and smell can make this tonic hard to stomach.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Part of what spurred intense interest, according to sources, was the success of Weapons, Zach Cregger’s summer horror hit.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
After long mornings at my father’s bedside, my mother and I arrived at Confiserie Sprüngli weary and afraid.—
Aleksandra Crapanzano,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
-
And while Parker wasn’t afraid of no ghosts, what about Huey Lewis’ lawyers?—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Much of the film rests on a razor's edge between funny and frightening, which makes its twists and turns all the more surprising.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
-
In the premiere’s early minutes, a young woman on a mission falls prey to a vampire and his frightening creatures known as revenants, sparking Helen’s decision to bring Guy into the fold.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For The Golden Bachelor star Mel Owens, riding a horse during his one-on-one date with Cindy was a little scary.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
As one of Stephen King‘s scariest pieces of IP gets the HBO Max series treatment, the bloodbath has commenced with the first episode.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Gómez took the 5-day trip to Mexico City as a brief respite before starting intensive training to care for Noah at his home in New York City.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
And the side hustle is time-intensive.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Japanese had cyclotrons but no nuclear lobby driven by frightened, concerned, or ambitious scientists.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Her parents were opposed to the Russian occupation but too frightened to talk about it.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearful. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share