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fearful

fearful

143 1.3
Feeling afraid or nervous and easily frightened
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɪrfl/
translation icon : miedoso
  • He was always fearful when walking alone at night in that neighborhood.
  • fearful and anxious
  • feel fearful
  • become fearful

I think most people are fearful of dying in pain.

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Examples

  • As you grow older, you become more fearful and less flexible.

  • What would you say to people fearful about making those big decisions?

  • Do not be fearful, little one!

  • When in his life had he been so fearful of another, especially a boy?

    Fiction book (1992)
  • And on this Monday morning, they were fearful of what action he would take.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I think most people are fearful of dying in pain.

  • Are you fearful that you, or your loved ones, are in danger?

  • I am fearful for Mina.

  • At one retreat, I was watching my own mind be very agitated, fearful, and confused.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Cowering, fearful of every sound, of every footstep, like an animal at bay.

Synonyms

afraid
vsfearful
1.0

Feeling fear or worry about something

is broader, covering both specific and general anxious responses
scared
vsfearful
1.0

Feeling afraid because you think something bad might happen

covers that emotion plus milder anxiety and easy fright
worried
vsfearful
1.0

Feeling nervous or upset about something that may go wrong

is more about immediate fear reactions than steady concern
nervous
vsfearful
1.3

Feeling worried and easily frightened

can be the same feeling but also includes clear fear responses
terrified
vsfearful
263 2.1

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

expresses the same emotion but can be much less intense
anxious
vsfearful
201 2.7

Feeling worried or nervous about something that might happen

focuses more on immediate fright rather than ongoing worry
uneasy
vsfearful
98 3.2

You feel worried and not relaxed

is stronger and includes clear frightened reactions
scared to death
vsfearful
  • Informal
84 3.2

So frightened that you cannot move or speak

is the general emotion that may be less intense
apprehensive
vsfearful
36 5.0

Feeling worried that something bad will happen

is a general feeling that can be sudden or continuing
petrified
vsfearful
29 4.6

So frightened that you cannot move or think clearly

covers fear states that usually allow normal action or thought
scared shitless
vsfearful
  • Offensive
19 9.9

Feeling very afraid because you think something bad will happen

is the same emotion but can be less emotionally intense
alarmed
vsfearful
10 2.2

Suddenly afraid or worried because you think something bad might happen

is broader and also includes steady unease or shyness
frightened
vsfearful
3 1.0

Being afraid because something seems dangerous

is a more general feeling that can be mild or strong
timorous
vsfearful
  • Formal
1 8.6

Feeling nervous and lacking confidence in new situations

is a general feeling not limited to timidity
trepid
vsfearful
1 9.9

Feeling nervous and afraid to do something new

is broader, covering many kinds of fear beyond shyness
intimidated
vsfearful
3.7

Feeling afraid and not confident because someone seems scary

is general fear not specifically caused by another person

Antonyms

117 3.4

Shows courage in dangerous or hard situations

29 1.6

Not feeling fear or worry when facing danger

How Fearful

terrified
263 2.1
fearful
143 1.3
afraid
1.0
nervous
1.3
uneasy
98 3.2

Surface Forms

fearful positive
fearfuller comparative
fearfullest superlative

Morphology

fearful = fear (transparent) = fear + ful

The adjective is formed by adding the productive suffix '-ful' to the noun 'fear', yielding 'full of fear' which directly matches the sense 'feeling or showing fear'.

Etymology

Fearful comes from the simple word fear plus the ending -ful, which means 'full of'. So to be fearful is to be 'full of' fear, meaning afraid or easily frightened.