fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfir-səm 

1

a

: causing fear

a fearsome monster

b

: intense, extreme

fearsome determination

2

: timid, timorous

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of fearsome in a Sentence

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

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Larger public schools in the state, like the University of South Carolina and Clemson, have big rah-rah energy and are fearsome competitors. —Ron Lieber, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Kamilla, Star, and Mary talked about forming a new fearsome foursome with Mitch to go to rocks at the next Tribal Council and take out Joe, but Mitch was not buying what Star was selling. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 1 May 2025

Mike Green from Marshall is the pick here and will join Baron Browning and Josh Sweat on the edge in Arizona, giving the team a fearsome pass-rush. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025

As shown in the new trailer, Atsu will have to do just that, facing off with fearsome foes while traveling through both lush blue fields of flowers and rocky, mountainous terrain. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

fear entry 1 + -some entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfi(ə)r-səm 

1

: causing fear

2

: timid

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun