What does "fearful" mean?
Frightening; causing fear.
Fearful
/ˈfɪɹfəl/ adj, adv
adj, adv ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Frightening; causing fear.
- Grammar: fearful is listed as adj, adv.
- Nearest alternatives: dreadful, fearsome, horrific, afeard.
- Useful contrasts: benign, brave, brave person.
- Usage evidence: A fearful thought entered my mind.
How to use "fearful"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fearful" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fearful" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fearful" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fearful" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fearful" is acting as adj, adv in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dreadful" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fearful", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Frightening; causing fear.
"Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me, But let them hear what fearful words I utter."
- 2 Tending to fear; timid.
"a fearful boy"
- 3 Terrible; shockingly bad. dated
"But every day after dinner, for an hour, we were all together, and then the Favourite and the rest of the Royal Hareem competed who should most beguile the leisure of the Serene Haroun reposing from the cares of State — which were generally, as in most affairs of State, of an arithmetical character, the Commander of the Faithful being a fearful boggler at a sum."
- 4 Frightened; filled with terror. archaic
"kings ſhall crouch vnto our conquering ſwords, And hoſtes of Souldiers ſtand amazd at vs, When with their fearfull tongues they ſhall confeſſe Theſe are the men that al the world admires,"
Adjective
- 1 experiencing or showing fear wordnet
- 2 causing fear or dread or terror wordnet
- 3 timid by nature or revealing timidity wordnet
- 4 lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted wordnet
- 5 extremely distressing wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Extremely; fearfully. dialectal
"“He is fearful handsome, as you know,” she said remorsefully, “you cannot imagine, Georgiana, the joy when I first fell in love with him.”"
Example
"A fearful thought entered my mind."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fearful"?
Common synonyms include: dreadful, fearsome, horrific, afeard, afeared, aflutter.
How do you use "fearful" in a sentence?
A fearful thought entered my mind.
How do you pronounce "fearful"?
Pronounced /ˈfɪɹfəl/.
Etymology
From Middle English ferful, fervol, equivalent to fear + -ful.