Synonyms of afraid

afraid

adjective

ə-ˈfrād 

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

• scared
• frightened
• terrified
• fearful
• horrified
• alarmed
• shocked
• worried
• upset
• spooked
• hysteric
• aghast
• startled
• nervous
• affrighted
• scary
• anxious
• panicked
• apprehensive
• timid
• appalled
• terrorized
• hysterical
• disturbed
• horror-struck
• wary
• timorous
• shrinking
• panicky
• shy
• agitated
• perturbed
• phobic
• intimidated
• uneasy
• disquieted
• cautious
• careful
• fainthearted
• disconcerted
• coward
• tremulous
• dismayed
• daunted
• jumpy
• jittery
• cowardly
• fearsome
• cowed
• chicken
• funky
• unnerved
• skittish
• craven
• panic-stricken
• pusillanimous
• gutless
• unadventurous
• tremulant
• heedful
• prudent
• lily-livered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unafraid
• fearless
• daring
• adventurous
• brave
• bold
• spirited
• audacious
• sure
• courageous
• venturesome
• gutsy
• confident
• adventuresome
• daredevil
• plucky
• hardy
• dashing
• spunky
• valiant
• heroic
• intrepid
• collected
• composed
• stout
• gallant
• assured
• stalwart
• cool
• venturous
• valorous
• sanguine
• unperturbed
• resolute
• undaunted
• dauntless
• stouthearted
• heroical
• manful
• lionhearted

Synonym Chooser

How is the word afraid different from other adjectives like it?

The words apprehensive and fearful are common synonyms of afraid. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

When is it sensible to use apprehensive instead of afraid?

The words apprehensive and afraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

When can fearful be used instead of afraid?

The meanings of fearful and afraid largely overlap; however, fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of afraid

Part of me was always afraid to kind of get to this age... —Michelle Lee, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025

First and foremost, travel sketchbooks are great conversation starters, especially for introverts such as myself, perpetually afraid of being the one to break the ice. —Tim Brinkhof, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2025

Designed for the modernist who isn’t afraid to add a little glam to their tablescape, the five-piece set (priced at $175) comes with a dinner fork, knife, salad fork, soup spoon, and teaspoon. —Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025

Pay attention to your customers, listen closely, and don’t be afraid to test small, strategic changes. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025