fearsome

[ feer-suh m ]
/ ˈfɪər səm /

adjective

causing fear: a fearsome noise.
causing awe or respect: a fearsome self-confidence.
afraid; timid.

Origin of fearsome

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

fearful fearsome

Example sentences from the Web for fearsome

British Dictionary definitions for fearsome

fearsome
/ (ˈfɪəsəm) /

adjective

frightening
timorous; afraid

Derived forms of fearsome

fearsomely, adverb fearsomeness, noun