fearful

adjective

fear·​ful ˈfir-fəl How to pronounce fearful (audio)
1
: causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm especially because of dangerous quality
a fearful storm
2
a
: full of fear
fearful for his safety
b
: indicating or arising from fear
a fearful glance
c
: inclined to fear : timorous
3
: very great or bad
used as an intensive
a fearful waste
fearful slum conditions
fearfully adverb
fearfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fearful

fearful, apprehensive, afraid mean disturbed by fear.

fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

Examples of fearful in a Sentence

He plays the role of a timid and fearful clerk. They won the war but at a fearful cost.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Van Hollen added that Abrego Garcia was held in a cell with 25 other people and fearful of other prisoners who taunted him. Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025 His family, angry and fearful, even staged an intervention to force the former teetotaler into rehab. Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025 Investors are fearful of high inflation and tepid growth or even a recession. Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025 Davis City Council members suggested UC Davis’ famed Picnic Day tradition — a more than century old celebration which draws crowds equal to the city’s population — must improve its safety measures following a weekend shooting that leaders said Tuesday left residents fearful. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fearful

Word History

Etymology

Middle English feerful, fereful "inspiring dread, frightened," from fer fear entry 1 + -ful -ful entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fearful was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Fearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fearful. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

fearful

adjective
fear·​ful ˈfi(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce fearful (audio)
1
: causing fear
the fearful roar of a lion
2
: filled with fear
fearful of danger
3
: showing or caused by fear
a fearful glance
4
: extremely bad, large, or intense
fearful cold
fearfully adverb
fearfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fearful

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