Synonyms of fearful

fearful

adjective

ˈfir-fəl 

1

as in terrifying

causing fear

the fearful roar of a lion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• formidable
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating
• dread
• alarming
• shocking
• horrifying
• dreadful
• startling
• frightful
• eerie
• creepy
• fearsome
• forbidding
• ghastly
• dire
• threatening
• troubling
• trying
• direful
• redoubtable
• gruesome
• disturbing
• horrendous
• discouraging
• spine-chilling
• unnerving
• hair-raising
• daunting
• disconcerting
• demoralizing
• disquieting
• perturbing
• distressing
• weird
• hideous
• dismaying
• nightmarish
• appalling
• awful
• horrid
• monstrous
• grisly
• macabre
• bone-chilling
• atrocious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• inviting
• calming
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• nonthreatening
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in timid

easily frightened

the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• timid
• scary
• shy
• scared
• terrified
• afraid
• timorous
• tremulous
• fainthearted
• panicked
• mousy
• fearsome
• skittish
• yellow
• startled
• apprehensive
• anxious
• cowardly
• craven
• pusillanimous
• nervous
• alarmed
• gutless
• unheroic
• dastardly
• panicky
• jittery
• horrified
• spooked
• jumpy
• spineless
• spooky
• chicken
• chickenhearted
• unnerved
• shocked
• lily-livered
• poltroon
• milk-livered
• panic-stricken
• chicken-livered
• terrorized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• daring
• adventurous
• bold
• brave
• fearless
• hardy
• courageous
• audacious
• confident
• venturesome
• heroic
• gutsy
• valiant
• undaunted
• intrepid
• dauntless
• dashing
• gallant
• stout
• valorous
• stalwart
• venturous
• adventuresome
• assured
• resolute
• determined
• firm
• stouthearted
• unflinching
• undeterred
• spirited
• unswerving
• game
• greathearted
• doughty
• plucky
• lionhearted
• self-confident
• self-assured
• spunky
• mettlesome

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

• intense
• intensive
• fierce
• ferocious
• terrible
• furious
• deep
• violent
• heavy
• vicious
• profound
• acute
• dreadful
• frightful
• fearsome
• explosive
• ghastly
• vehement
• keen
• excruciating
• exquisite
• hard
• blistering
• intensified
• almighty
• harsh
• aggravated
• heavy-duty
• heightened
• hellacious
• concentrated
• stressed
• severe
• magnified
• enhanced
• thorough
• accentuated
• deepened
• emphasized
• exhaustive
• rigorous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• moderate
• weak
• soft
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• eased
• decreased
• subdued
• diminished
• toned (down)
• moderated
• reduced
• lightened
• alleviated
• lessened
• abated

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fearful different from other adjectives like it?

The words afraid and apprehensive are common synonyms of fearful. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

When can afraid be used instead of fearful?

While the synonyms afraid and fearful are close in meaning, 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 fearful?

The synonyms apprehensive and fearful are sometimes interchangeable, but apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fearful

In both cases, the more skeptical (or even fearful) member of each couple is confronted by bad behavior from their counterpart. —Todd Gilchrist, IndieWire, 7 May 2026

In Australia, a wide-ranging inquiry commission examining antisemitism after a massacre at a Hanukkah celebration heard this week from Jews who said escalating hatred has left them fearful and vulnerable. —David Crary, Fortune, 6 May 2026

That day, Beverley purchased a supply of heroin for her son, fearful that he would be arrested during the purchase, PEOPLE reported in 1996. —Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

But, fearful of another attack, classes were cancelled for a week. —Molly Hunter, NBC news, 2 May 2026