Synonyms of fearsome

fearsome

adjective

ˈfir-səm 

1

as in formidable

causing fear

at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in timid

easily frightened

the more fearsome of the two children would only peer at the guests from a distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fearsome

If all goes according to plan, the Rams will ride that fearsome defensive front all the way to the championship that so narrowly eluded them last winter. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026

Among the missing, are more than 900 workers, like Chandra from the many hydropower projects that bore deep into the world’s highest mountain range to tap into the fearsome energy unleashed by its raging rivers. — Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Contrary to their reputation, bats are not fearsome creatures but unsung ecological heroes. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Still, the constant death against even low-level grunt enemies, let alone fearsome bosses, is annoying and obnoxious. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026