fearsome

adjective

ˈfir-səm How to pronounce fearsome (audio)
Definition of fearsomenext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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 fearsome In walked a rugged giant of a man who had a fearsome aura about him. — Scott Jenkins, Christian Science Monitor, 28 July 2026 Viewership has dropped, but big battles with their fearsome fire-breathing dragons could easily bring viewers back, especially since this really has been a step in the right direction compared to Season 2. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 These apex predators are fearsome hunters who employ diverse strategies and work collaboratively when tracking down a meal. — Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 23 July 2026 Kirk Kerkorian, the fearsome billionaire owner of MGM, who ate there three to four times a week. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fearsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearsome
  1. formidable
  2. intense
  3. timid
  4. terrifying
  5. fierce
  6. scary
  7. frightening
  8. intensive
Adjective
  • Miami entered the game riding a seven-match unbeaten streak in league play and leading MLS with 45 goals, but facing a formidable foe in Nashville.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of formidable
Adjective
  • These could include intense earthquake swarms, rapid ground deformation, changing gas emissions, and unusual heat flow.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Footage aired by local media showed massive flames and fireballs erupting from the tank, with black and orange smoke rising in the sky as firefighters spray what appears to be foam or water in efforts to quench the intense fire.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • Souleymane, an Afro-German trans man, talented fashion designer and increasingly less timid figure on Berlin’s ballroom scene, travels to Dakar to repair his father’s kora.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This is a great car for a timid driver, a new driver or perhaps a sensible son or daughter.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of timid
Adjective
  • Video captured recently in Botswana shows the terrifying moment a tourist boat had to outpace a charging hippo.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The bandages, cuts and stitches were still fresh from the terrifying attack on Jones Street on Wednesday evening.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Once known for his fierce striking, power leg kicks, wheel kicks and punches.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There's fierce competition among the seven other receivers on the camp roster for an opening day roster spot.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • No prominent leader has explained what governments will do when the scariest AI capabilities are diffused around the world and become accessible to criminals and terrorists.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Universal’s annual Halloween Horror Nights is looking like an even scarier place to have a nice daaaate.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of scary
Adjective
  • And what is perhaps most frightening, in those despondent moments that inevitably follow the exhilarating rush, is the realization that this enveloping abyss retains the imprint of our actions.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The video quickly sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many viewers expressing relief that the ride's safety restraints appeared to do their job despite the frightening ordeal.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • His preference for a 4-2-3-1 has been evident, however, and the German is looking for Newcastle to be aggressive in the press, intensive and also direct, with a plan to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • If the electricity required to operate the system comes from carbon-intensive sources, some of the benefits of capturing atmospheric CO₂ are lost.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of intensive

Browse Nearby Words

fears
fearsome
fearsomeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fearsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearsome. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fearsome

Nglish: Translation of fearsome for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All