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Synonyms

fearsome

American  
[feer-suhm] / ˈfɪər səm /

adjective

  1. causing fear.

    a fearsome noise.

  2. causing awe or respect.

    a fearsome self-confidence.

  3. afraid; timid.

fearsome British  
/ ˈfɪəsəm /

adjective

  1. frightening

  2. timorous; afraid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of fearsome

First recorded in 1760–70; fear + -some 1

Vocabulary lists containing fearsome

"The Crucible," Vocabulary from the play

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fearsome black late summer clouds accelerated the fall of darkness.

From BBC • May 13, 2024

Fearsome machines are part of daily life at the lab, which serves as a hospital where ailing books from every department of the museum are restored to health.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

He especially enjoyed playing behind the defensive line of Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen and Rosey Grier, nicknamed the Fearsome Foursome.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2023

Fearsome defense has long been the calling card of the No. 8 Quakers, and this winter has been no different.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2023

“Regibald du Burgh! I, Archivist Werfel, formerly in the service of His Fearsome Majesty Ghohg the Protector, am the host and guardian of Brangwain Spurge. He is a guest in my home.”

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.