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 fearfully

British Dictionary definitions for fearfully (1 of 2)

fearfully
/ (ˈfɪəfʊlɪ) /

adverb

in a fearful manner
(intensifier) you're fearfully kind

British Dictionary definitions for fearfully (2 of 2)

fearful
/ (ˈfɪəfʊl) /

adjective

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

Derived forms of fearful

fearfulness, noun