afraid

[uh-freyd]

adjective

1. feeling fear; filled with apprehension.

   afraid to go.

   Synonyms: timorous, timid, apprehensive, fearful, scared
   Antonyms: fearless, confident, bold

2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like.

   I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

3. feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like.

   He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

afraid

/ əˈfreɪd /

adjective

1. (often foll by of) feeling fear or apprehension; frightened

   he was afraid of cats

2. reluctant (to do something), as through fear or timidity

   he was afraid to let himself go

3. regretful

   I'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go

Other Word Forms

• half-afraid adjective
• unafraid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

Variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

C14: affraied, past participle of _affray (to frighten)

Synonym Study

Afraid, alarmed, frightened, terrified all indicate a state of fear. Afraid implies inner apprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark. Alarmed implies that the feelings are aroused through realization of some imminent or unexpected danger to oneself or others: alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness. Frightened means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, especially that arising from apprehension of physical harm: frightened by an accident. Terrified suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear: terrified by an earthquake.

Example Sentences

When ‘The Osbournes’ premiered in 2002, we saw a different kind of TV family with a patriarch who wasn’t afraid to curse, shout and strip away his rock star persona for millions of viewers.

From Los Angeles Times

People in parts of the Angolan capital, Luanda, are still afraid to talk openly about what happened in July when protests brought part of the city to a standstill and disturbances rocked other provinces too.

From BBC

The more afraid I was of him, the more groveling I became.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Offeh previously said he was "not afraid" of the warrant for their eviction.

From BBC

"Individuals who are older, immunocompromised adults and children who may have cancer, for example, are going to be afraid to go out into public."

From BBC

Related Words

• anxious 
• apprehensive 
• frightened 
• nervous 
• scared 
• shocked www.thesaurus.com
• suspicious 
• timid