Looking up...
fearful
/ˈfɪərfl/
filled with fear or anxiety
The child was fearful of the dark.
The child felt scared or anxious when it was dark.
general
Experiencing or showing fear or anxiety
She gave a fearful glance at the approaching storm.
She looked at the storm with fear and worry.
Often used to describe a person's emotional state or reaction to a threatening situation.
general
Causing fear or anxiety
The movie had a fearful scene that made everyone jump.
The movie had a scene that was very scary and startled everyone.
Can describe situations, events, or things that evoke fear.
Collocations
fearful ofafraid offearful glancea look that shows fearfearful situationa situation that causes fear
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The word 'fearful' can describe both the person experiencing fear and the thing causing fear. Pay attention to the context to understand its meaning.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
While 'fearful' is a strong word, it can be overused in casual conversation. Consider using synonyms like 'anxious' or 'nervous' for less intense situations.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'ferful,' from Old English 'færful,' meaning 'full of fear,' from 'fær' (fear) + '-ful' (full of).
Usage Notes
Can be used to describe both the experience of fear and the cause of fear. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
Word Breakdown
fear
a feeling of being afraid
root-ful
full of
suffixEnglish Dictionary