Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
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

  • fearsomely adverb
  • fearsomeness noun

Etymology

Origin of fearsome

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

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.

When fit, the Arsenal forward line is among Europe's most fearsome, especially with Kelly rediscovering her scoring touch in that West Ham game by netting twice.

From BBC

At the heart of this run has been Pasquantino, a slugging first baseman for the Kansas City Royals who is the team’s most fearsome hitter and unofficial recruiting coordinator.

From The Wall Street Journal

I could not make out what he was saying, though it was loud, so fearsome that the sled dogs on the porch stopped their singing.

From Literature

It was a fearsome constellation of paramilitary factions and amenable governments that became known as the Axis of Resistance.

From Los Angeles Times

Scientists believe it rivalled the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex in size, measuring around 40 feet long with a 20-inch sword-like crest on its head.

From Barron's

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.