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fearsomely

fearsomely

1 7.5
In a way that makes people afraid
  • adverb
  • /ˈfɪr.sə.mli/
translation icon : temiblemente
  • The ensemble is one of Chicago's most daring new music groups, and Dal Niente's players are fearsomely talented.

Examples

  • In contrast, he referred to the "fearsomely high" costs of caciquismo (1975, 164), which he saw as the local component of national institutions.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The lion roared fearsomely, making everyone in the vicinity tremble with fear.

  • In other places, a 13-year-old is a soldier, and a fearsomely good one to boot.

    Blog text (18)
  • It had begun to itch most fearsomely.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The white hulk rumbled past, rocking the small car fearsomely.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • But our current fearsomely complex student debt management and collection system, as it has evolved over the last generation, makes no distinction between deadbeats paying back their loans and the much greater numbers of people who just don't have the money to do it.

    Blog text (24)
  • Armitage was fearsomely smart and impressive—far more impressive than I've ever seen Powell.

    Blog text (24)
  • It was possible to get a video link to one of the travel-and-tourism nets, but why would anyone do that when they could just walk around the corner onto Canyon Boulevard and talk to the fearsomely brisk and smiling young women at Canyon Travel?

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Twenty million deaths into Africa's AIDS catastrophe, the medical and public health literature remains curiously vague—even euphemistic—about exactly how HIV spread so fearsomely fast through the region.

    Academic text (2002)
  • She delivered her speech fearsomely, leaving the audience both impressed and intimidated.

Synonyms

eerily
vsfearsomely
30 6.8

In a strange and frightening way

is about clear impressive intimidation rather than odd uncanny fear
alarmingly
vsfearsomely
14 5.4

In a way that makes people feel worried or afraid

creates strong intimidating effect rather than just causing general worry
ominously
vsfearsomely
12 6.9

In a way that shows something bad will happen

is immediate impressive intimidation rather than a foreboding sign of future harm
frighteningly
vsfearsomely
12 5.7

In a way that makes you feel scared

is more about impressive intimidation than simple alarm or threat
menacingly
vsfearsomely
6 6.3

In a way that seems likely to hurt or scare someone

implies impressive intimidation rather than an explicit imminent threat
terrifyingly
vsfearsomely
5 6.5

In a way that is very frightening or very strong to show how serious something is

is intense but focuses on impressive intimidation rather than pure terror
creepily
vsfearsomely
4 4.9

In a way that makes someone feel afraid or uncomfortable

creates an imposing intimidating effect rather than mere unsettling unease
scarily
vsfearsomely
4 4.9

In a way that makes you feel afraid or very worried

leans more toward impressive or notable intimidation rather than plain fright
chillingly
vsfearsomely
3 6.3

In a way that makes you feel afraid or very uncomfortable

is more about bold impressive intimidation than a chilling sensation
horrifyingly
vsfearsomely
3 6.7

In a way that makes people feel very afraid or shocked

is about making an impression of intimidation rather than shocking horror
threateningly
vsfearsomely
3 5.5

In a way that shows you might hurt or scare someone

is more about creating impressive intimidation than showing clear intent
horridly
vsfearsomely
1 7.0

In a very bad and unpleasant way

focuses more on impressive intimidation than on disgust or ugliness
formidably
vsfearsomely
1 7.4

In a way that makes people feel fear or respect

is about impressive intimidation more generally rather than physical size
spookily
vsfearsomely
1 7.0

In a strange, frightening way that feels like a ghost

focuses more on broad impressive intimidation than on eerie strangeness
nightmarishly
vsfearsomely
1 7.5

It happens in a very unpleasant and frightening way

is less about surreal nightmare quality and more about strong impression
sinisterly
vsfearsomely
7.5

In a way that seems evil or threatening

emphasizes impressive intimidation without necessarily sounding morally evil

Antonyms

2 3.3

In a way that makes someone feel calm and less worried

How Frightening

terrifyingly
5 6.5
fearsomely
1 7.5
alarmingly
14 5.4
unsettlingly
1 7.0

Surface Forms

fearsomely positive

Morphology

fearsomely = fearsome (transparent) = fear + some + ly

Forming the adverb with the productive suffix '-ly' from the adjective 'fearsome' is a regular, clearly derivational process.

Etymology

Fearsomely comes from the word fear and the ending -some, which means 'causing' or 'full of', as in awesome or troublesome. So to act fearsomely is to act in a way that 'causes fear' or is very intimidating.