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

He added that farmers should now "prepare for the worst, I'm afraid".

Read more on BBC

"They are afraid of hard working staff privately discussing exercising their rights for a fairer workplace and a collective voice," he said.

Read more on BBC

“It’s not normal. But I’m a stronger Palestinian for having gone through it. I’m not afraid of a settler in the checkpoint with an M-16; he’s more terrified of me,” she said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Senator Howard Lutnick has discouraged the use of the word safety on the grounds that, "It makes us sound like we're afraid".

Read more on BBC

At the same time, Republicans are already showing just how afraid they are of Mamdani and his brand of politics.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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