fearful

[ feer-fuhl ]
/ ˈfɪər fəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR fearful ON THESAURUS.COM

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

fe., feal, fealty, fear, feared, fearful, fearfully, fearless, fearnought, fearsome, feasance

Words related to unfearful

spunky, spirited, gutsy, valiant, courageous, heroic, gallant, foolhardy, daring, confident, fearless, audacious, stout, adventurous, dashing, reckless, resolute, strong, determined, firm

Example sentences from the Web for unfearful

  • The whole thing was extraordinary and curious but unfearful, a storm of wind seemed blowing in her face.

    The Ghost Girl |H. De Vere Stacpoole

British Dictionary definitions for unfearful

fearful
/ (ˈfɪəfʊl) /

adjective

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

Derived forms of fearful

fearfulness, noun