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

Sato, who has played more than 500 games at third for the Tigers, is one of the most fearsome NPB hitters. — Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Kandi Krush is one of the most fearsome competitors on the Women of Wrestling (WOW) roster. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The series follows trainee Detective Eva Bennett, played by Dynevor, who returns to Manchester and joins a new homicide investigation run by her fearsome estranged mother – the legendary Detective Chief Inspector Lois Mercer, played by Morton. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026

Kova of Stormwatch leaves her mother and sweetheart behind in order to study beneath the legendarily fearsome Sayre Boarbane… only for the stubbornly solitary Sayre to immediately drag her back home. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026