FEARFUL Synonyms: 243 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fearful' different from other adjectives like it?

The words afraid and apprehensive are common synonyms of fearful . While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament. // the child is fearful of loud noises

Q: When can 'afraid' be used instead of 'fearful'?

While the synonyms afraid and fearful are close in meaning, afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance. // afraid to speak the truth

Q: When is it sensible to use 'apprehensive' instead of 'fearful'?

The synonyms apprehensive and fearful are sometimes interchangeable, but apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger. // apprehensive of being found out

fearful

adjective

ˈfir-fəl

Definition of fearful next

as in terrifying

causing fear the fearful roar of a lion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in timid

easily frightened the stray cat that we took in is still fearful, even around us

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

The words afraid and apprehensive are common synonyms of fearful. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

When can afraid be used instead of fearful?

While the synonyms afraid and fearful are close in meaning, 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 fearful?

The synonyms apprehensive and fearful are sometimes interchangeable, but apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

Examples 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 fearful Modernity’s distance and fear of death made modern specters more fearful than ever before. —

Tithi Bhattacharya / Made By History, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024 Left and right, fearful of political backlash and empowered by dog whistling on the right, companies have been slowly revoking and renouncing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as policies designed to lift up employees of color. —

Gayle Jennings, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024 Arachnologists do acknowledge that many people are fearful of spiders and may not want them around. —

Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 The collapse of social and economic order in Myanmar is watched carefully by its neighbors, fearful that instability will spill over. —

Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fearful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearful

Adjective

Learn more › While the roar of the mighty Tyrannosaurs rex in the Jurassic Park film franchise is pretty terrifying, it was actually created by Hollywood special effects wizards using the sounds of a baby elephant.

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
In this show, the most terrifying threat is not any singular person or group, but rather, the monsters inside us.

Andrés Buenahora, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024