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

Words nearby fearsome

feared, fearful, fearfully, fearless, fearnought, fearsome, feasance, feasibility study, feasible, feast, feast day

Example sentences from the Web for fearsomeness

  • Again, as the garments of the daily task fell from her, Joyce felt the sordidness and fearsomeness depart.

    Joyce of the North Woods |Harriet T. Comstock

  • He had fearsomeness enough of his own to send him rearing and pawing the air until the whiffle-trees rapped his knees.

    Horses Nine |Sewell Ford

  • I myself know the fearsomeness of the raids of our equally ferocious Apaches and Yaquis.

    A Volunteer with Pike |Robert Ames Bennet

  • It is difficult for me, even at this time, to understand all the fearsomeness of that moment.

    The Minute Boys of Boston |James Otis

British Dictionary definitions for fearsomeness

fearsome
/ (ˈfɪəsəm) /

adjective

frightening
timorous; afraid

Derived forms of fearsome

fearsomely, adverb fearsomeness, noun