1
as in terrifying
causing fear
the fearful roar of a lion
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2
as in timid
easily frightened
the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us
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3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the fearful wind and cold simply made being outside a miserable experience
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4
as in afraid
filled with fear or dread
fearful of venturing out onto the dark highway, the stranded motorist decided to wait in the car for help
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fearful
Investors have been fearful that a dramatic escalation of a trade war could plunge the US and global economies into a recession.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Locals remain fearful that Canada could cut off the water and electricity supply in retaliation for Trump's aggressive trade policies.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
The woman, fearful of the threat that the FBI would arrest her, prosecutors say, followed the instructions and liquidated hundreds of thousands of dollars from her retirement savings to buy gold bars and then handed the bars over to the bagmen.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 25 Mar. 2025
Related article Putin just called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine, with the Russian art of the ‘no’ deal
Indeed, Russia has for years been moving its official funds out of the US, apparently fearful of repercussions over its aggressions in Ukraine and Georgia.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearful
David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Locals remain fearful that Canada could cut off the water and electricity supply in retaliation for Trump's aggressive trade policies.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
The woman, fearful of the threat that the FBI would arrest her, prosecutors say, followed the instructions and liquidated hundreds of thousands of dollars from her retirement savings to buy gold bars and then handed the bars over to the bagmen.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 25 Mar. 2025
Related article Putin just called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine, with the Russian art of the ‘no’ deal
Indeed, Russia has for years been moving its official funds out of the US, apparently fearful of repercussions over its aggressions in Ukraine and Georgia.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearful
Adjective
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Back in August, Renner spoke about how his terrifying snowplow accident in January 2023 led to his daughter becoming a little more independent.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Prehistoric insects encased in amber reveal a terrifying evolutionary road that dead-ended sometime after the mid-Cretaceous period.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Underdogs don't come much more awkward than Carrie White (so memorably played by Sissy Spacek), the timid, tragic heroine of Brian De Palma's freaky Stephen King adaptation.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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More timid than her siblings, Sheryl told Arcadia News that Sonora refused to dance at her first recital.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ricky Steamboat From Clash Of The Champions 6 The intense rivalry between Ricky Steamboat and Flair produced some of the most celebrated matches in professional wrestling history.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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The process has ignited intense public pushback from Luna to not only leadership, but her one-time allies in the Freedom Caucus.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And most importantly, surround yourself with other women who think big, talk money openly, and aren’t afraid to build serious wealth.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Will Poulter has never been afraid to get rough on screen and the same apparently applies to his work process as well.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Good news California began trying to police ghost guns after those frightening findings came out, enacting legislation in both 2022 and 2023 to curtail their unregulated sales.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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But the bloodshed that unfolded March 6-10 in Latakia and Tartous represents a frightening escalation.—
Chris Massaro,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The scary part is how quickly and naturally this thinking could extend to current employees.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The scariest unknown for women with cancer, after the disease itself, can be their husbands—a staggering number of whom abandon their wives in the wake of a diagnosis.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This alarming probability briefly landed the asteroid atop impact risk lists maintained by NASA and the European Space Agency, triggering planetary defense discussions and prompting intensive follow-up observations to refine the object's trajectory.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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If the proposal gets legislative approval in Healey’s roughly $62 billion budget request, the Bay State would lose its only intensive residential treatment program for children between the ages of 6 and 12 who are suffering from suicidal and/or homicidal ideations or other complex needs.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The family is frightened, but the soldiers aren’t there to terrorize them.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
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Financial markets have crashed, consumers are frightened, and deals are paralyzed.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearful. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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