fearsome

[ feer-suhm ]
See synonyms for fearsome on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. causing fear: a fearsome noise.

  2. causing awe or respect: a fearsome self-confidence.

  1. afraid; timid.

Origin of fearsome

1
First recorded in 1760–70; fear + -some1

Other words from fearsome

  • fear·some·ly, adverb
  • fear·some·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with fearsome

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for fearsome

fearsome

/ (ˈfɪəsəm) /


adjective
  1. frightening

  2. timorous; afraid

Derived forms of fearsome

  • fearsomely, adverb
  • fearsomeness, noun

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