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

Vic Fangio brings pressure with his fearsome front and in Week 12, that led to five sacks and just 4.8 yards per pass attempt. —Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025

The Zack Snyder film from 2006 — which marked Butler’s breakout role, playing the fearsome Spartan King Leonidas — was apparently quite war zone on set. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2025

The 30-foot-tall carnivorous theropod was a fearsome predator with three-toed claws who walked on two hind legs and resembled something similar to a Velociraptor. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025

The Palisades Fire drew international attention, as roaring flames consumed hillside homes worth $5 million and more, sending fearsome columns of black smoke above palm trees and sandy beaches. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 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