1
as in formidable
causing fear
at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed
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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst
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3
as in timid
easily frightened
the more fearsome of the two children would only peer at the guests from a distance
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fearsome
On the other hand, workers who do not see their skills as ‘specialized’ are far more fearsome about the future.
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Hilary Tetenbaum, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024
Does reading about one of the most common birds on the planet sharing ancestry with a fearsome predator like the Tyrannosaurus rex reinforce a belief that animals are just as fascinating as humans?
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Pumpkin’s lonely holiday ritual is interrupted by the arrival of a savage gang of raiders at her doorstep, led by the fearsome Thalia (Sossamon).
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024
Jeff Goldblum puts his own stamp on the fearsome Wizard of Oz, using his quirky persona to reinvent the character and providing a delightful musical number of his own.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fearsome 
Hilary Tetenbaum, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024
Does reading about one of the most common birds on the planet sharing ancestry with a fearsome predator like the Tyrannosaurus rex reinforce a belief that animals are just as fascinating as humans?
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Pumpkin’s lonely holiday ritual is interrupted by the arrival of a savage gang of raiders at her doorstep, led by the fearsome Thalia (Sossamon).
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024
Jeff Goldblum puts his own stamp on the fearsome Wizard of Oz, using his quirky persona to reinvent the character and providing a delightful musical number of his own.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fearsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearsome
Adjective
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The Chiefs also have rookie Xavier Worthy, but the team needs another receiver on par with Hopkins to ensure the offense stays formidable.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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By her 30th birthday, Giovanni was regularly publishing poems that tapped into the transformative power of focusing inward as a community—and working through what that meant in practice alongside formidable intellectuals such as James Baldwin.Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The warm front is a sharp contrast to the close of last week when an arctic surge swept across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with snow squalls, whiteouts and intense bursts of wind that left 20 million Americans under winter weather warnings or advisories.Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
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Becoming a professor requires years and years of intense study, often carried out in isolation and poverty.Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The prologue might end with a paroxysm of violence, but first there are a few timid whimpers of nascent pleasure; Bill Skarsgård’s base and primal Count Orlok is a nightmare who arrives on the wings of a nocturnal emission.David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
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Unexpectedly, the timid Noa takes his brother’s side, wrapping a scarf around his uncle’s neck.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The paranormal phenomena spooking Spongebob and Squidward has a mundane explanation, but the entity flickering the lights turns out to be none other than Nosferatu, who reassures them with a terrifying smile; amusingly, Spongebob and Squidward are relieved to see him.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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With his reputation and legacy on the line, Jay-Z is in for a fierce fight.Molly McPherson, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Bridging the hoedown and the ballroom, Beyoncé alternates between angelic croons and fierce commands over a thumping bassline and a springy acoustic guitar.Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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History says such a two-year performance in itself is neither a scary portent nor a ticket to further riches.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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With scary precision, the playwright captures the delusion that roots itself in families who use faith to control.Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That Daniel Penny acted to defend others from a frightening figure on the train was of no legal relevance, from the prosecution’s point of view, given that Neely did not have a weapon or threaten a specific passenger directly.Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
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However, Humbert decided to go it alone and ended up being the victim of quite a frightening shark attack.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Read More: How Leaked Police Interviews with Benjamin Netanyahu Became ‘The Bibi Files’ The only other Gaza City hospital with a NICU, Al-Sahaba hospital, operates under limited capacity, and is only able to offer basic level one care to infants— those without complex or intensive medical needs.Juwayriah Wright, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
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The company also provides intensive and critical care units; cardiovascular, digestive disease, neurosciences, musculoskeletal and obstetrics services; and outpatient services like physical therapy.Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near fearsome
Cite this Entry
“Fearsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearsome. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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