fearful Definition
- 1feeling afraid or anxious; frightened
- 2causing fear or anxiety; alarming
Using fearful: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "fearful" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She was fearful of the dark.
Example
The fearful storm caused widespread damage.
Example
He gave a fearful glance at the door.
Example
The child was fearful of the barking dog.
fearful Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using fearful
Example
The car accident was a fearful sight, with twisted metal and shattered glass everywhere.
feeling very anxious or worried about something that is going to happen
Example
The students waited in fearful anticipation for the results of their final exams.
Example
The horror movie made her fearful of the dark for weeks afterwards.
Phrases with fearful
a phrase from William Blake's poem 'The Tyger' that refers to the balance between opposing forces in nature, often used to describe patterns or designs that are both beautiful and terrifying
Example
The painting's use of color and form created a fearful symmetry that left viewers in awe.
Example
She was fearful for her son's safety during the storm.
Example
He was fearful of heights and refused to go on the rollercoaster.
Origins of fearful
from Old English 'færlic', meaning 'dangerous'
Summary: fearful in Brief
The term 'fearful' [ˈfɪərfl] describes a state of being afraid or anxious, as well as something that causes fear or anxiety. It can be used to describe people, situations, or things, such as 'She was fearful of the dark' or 'The fearful storm caused widespread damage.' The phrase 'fearful symmetry' refers to the balance between opposing forces in nature, while idioms like 'a fearful sight' and 'in fearful anticipation' convey the intensity of fear. Synonyms include 'scared' and 'anxious,' while antonyms include 'fearless' and 'brave.'