as in scared
filled with fear or dread
Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 afraid
Don’t be afraid to ask your care team for this information.
—
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
The observation still holds true, and Trump is not afraid to embody it.
—Andrew Exum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025
Opposing teams should be afraid to come into Coors Field.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
Bear cubs are dispatched up trees by unseen mothers, but wolverines come to the water’s edge to sit and watch, afraid of nothing.
—Alann B. Steen, Outdoor Life, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
The observation still holds true, and Trump is not afraid to embody it.
—Andrew Exum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025
Opposing teams should be afraid to come into Coors Field.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
Bear cubs are dispatched up trees by unseen mothers, but wolverines come to the water’s edge to sit and watch, afraid of nothing.
—Alann B. Steen, Outdoor Life, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
-
Plus, hearing from the new owners, those dogs have also been scared and skittish around humans.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
-
While gold is a popular choice when investors are scared, other alternatives such as infrastructure and real estate offer similar protection.—
Eric Satz,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Horses are naturally skittish animals that can easily become frightened and bolt.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
27 May 2025
-
Footage from the immediate aftermath captured mothers and fathers clutching children on their hips, running through the mist of water dousing the flames, while frightened dogs scrambled alongside them.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
In Bolland’s judgment, Duffy was fearful of unlocking the past and thus naming and confronting his acts.—
Sarah Beckwith,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
-
That ambiguity has left Venezuelan immigrants with TPS not only fearful but also confused.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Trump administration’s unprecedented action against Harvard is not the only reason why international college students have become alarmed about their future in the United States.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
But even legal scholars with an expansive view of executive authority have grown alarmed.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While guest hosting Today with Jenna & Friends on Tuesday, May 20, Guthrie, 53, shared that her son Charley, 8, asked her not to come to his school's party, leaving her good friend Jenna Bush Hager, 43, shocked.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
20 May 2025
-
So when Green’s ex reached out, unprompted, Green was shocked.—
Megan Farokhmanesh,
Wired News,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
However, because the pool was shallow, Lisberg was less worried.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
25 May 2025
-
While Herzig is hoping to win a million dollars, his guests are all worried about their own various fantasy teams, mostly competing for a few hundred bucks.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share