fearful
word
/ˈfɪɹfəɫ/
/fˈiəfəl/
Definition
Feeling or showing fear; afraid of something or worried that something bad might happen.
Usage & Nuances
"Fearful" is a formal or literary word, less common in everyday speech than "afraid" or "scared". It's often used to describe a general mood or tendency, as in "a fearful child". Sometimes, it also means causing fear (as in "a fearful storm"), but this use is old-fashioned.
Spanish: temeroso - miedoso - asustadoPortuguese (BR): medroso - temerosoPortuguese (PT): medroso - receosoChinese (Simplified): 害怕的 - 恐惧的Chinese (Traditional): 害怕的 - 恐懼的Hindi: डरपोक - भयभीतArabic: خائف - مذعورBengali: ভীত - আতঙ্কিতRussian: испуганный - боязливыйJapanese: 恐れている - 怖がりなVietnamese: sợ hãi - lo sợKorean: 두려워하는 - 겁내는Turkish: korkulu - ürkekUrdu: خوفزدہ - ڈرپوکIndonesian: takut - penuh ketakutan
Example Sentences
The fearful child hid behind his mother.
basic
He gave her a fearful look.
basic
She felt fearful during the storm.
basic
I've always been a bit fearful of dogs after I was bitten as a kid.
natural
"Don’t be so fearful—go and talk to him!"
natural
She sounded fearful on the phone, like something was wrong.
natural