fearful

[ feer-fuhl ]
/ ˈfɪər fəl /

adjective

causing or apt to cause fear; frightening: a fearful apparition.
feeling fear, dread, apprehension, or solicitude: fearful for his life; fearful lest he commit suicide.
full of awe or reverence: fearful of the Lord.
showing or caused by fear: fearful behavior.
extreme in size, intensity, or badness: a fearful head cold; fearful poverty.

Origin of fearful

First recorded in 1300–50, fearful is from the Middle English word ferful. See fear, -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM fearful

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fearful

fearful fearsome

Words nearby fearful

Example sentences from the Web for fearful

British Dictionary definitions for fearful

fearful
/ (ˈfɪəfʊl) /

adjective

having fear; afraid
causing fear; frightening
informal very unpleasant or annoying a fearful cold

Derived forms of fearful

fearfulness, noun