fearful

[feer-fuhl]

adjective

1. causing or apt to cause fear; frightening.

   a fearful apparition.

2. feeling fear, dread, apprehension, or solicitude.

   fearful for his life.

   Synonyms: worried, concerned, anxious, solicitous, distrustful, uneasy, apprehensive, timorous, timid, afraid

3. full of awe or reverence.

   fearful of the Lord.

4. showing or caused by fear.

   fearful behavior exhibited by dogs in the animal shelter.

5. extreme in size, intensity, or badness: fearful poverty.

   a fearful head cold;

   fearful poverty.

fearful

/ ˈfɪəfʊl /

adjective

1. having fear; afraid

2. causing fear; frightening

3. informal,  very unpleasant or annoying

   a fearful cold

Other Word Forms

• fearfully adverb
• fearfulness noun
• unfearful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fearful¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ferful(l); fear, -ful

Example Sentences

The 27-nation EU is increasingly fearful for its technological sovereignty as transatlantic trade and political tensions mount.

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Investors have been more fearful of missing out on stock market gains than hedging against negative news this year.

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So, Milei and his supporters were fearful of this fall’s election.

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It was hard to believe that such a fearful animal was related to wolves.

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They are racing against the clock, fearful that the royal and Napoleonic-era jewels will be broken down and sold off for their gems.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• afraid 
• agitated 
• anxious 
• frightened 
• hesitant 
• jittery 
• nervous 
• panicky www.thesaurus.com
• scared 
• shy 
• skittish 
• tense 
• timid 
• uneasy