Definitions for fearful
ˈfɪər fəlfear·ful

Princeton's WordNet(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. fearfuladjective

   experiencing or showing fear

   "a fearful glance"; "fearful of criticism"

2. awful, dire, direful, dread(a), dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terribleadjective

   causing fear or dread or terror

   "the awful war"; "an awful risk"; "dire news"; "a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked"; "the dread presence of the headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was"; "a dreadful storm"; "a fearful howling"; "horrendous explosions shook the city"; "a terrible curse"

3. cowardly, fearfuladjective

   lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted

   "cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then"- P.B.Shelley

4. fearful, frightfuladjective

   extremely distressing

   "fearful slum conditions"; "a frightful mistake"

5. fearful, timorous, trepidadjective

   timid by nature or revealing timidity

   "timorous little mouse"; "in a timorous tone"; "cast fearful glances at the large dog"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. fearfuladjective

   Frightening.

2. fearfuladjective

   Frightened, filled with terror.

3. fearfuladjective

   Terrible.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Fearfuladjective

   Etymology: fear and full.

   1. Timorous; timid; easily made afraid.

   He’s gentle, and not fearful. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

   2. Afraid. It has of before the object of fear.

   The Irish are more fearful to offend the law than the English. John Davies, on Ireland.

   I have made my heroine fearful of death, which neither Cassandra nor Cleopatra would have been. John Dryden, Auren. Pref.

   3. Awful; to be reverenced.

   Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises. Ex. xv. 11.

   4. Terrible; dreadful; frightful; impressing fear.

   Neither fast to friend, nor fearful to foe. Roger Ascham, Schoolm.

   Against such monsters God maintained his own, by fearful execution of extraordinary judgment upon them. Richard Hooker.

   What God did command touching Canaan, concerneth not us any otherwise than only as a fearful pattern of his just displeasure. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 17.

   All torment, trouble, wonder, and amazement
   Inhabits here: some heav’nly power guide us
   Out of this fearful country. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

   It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebr. x. 31.

   Lay down by those pleasures the fearful and dangerous thunders and lightnings, the horrible and frequent earthquakes, and then there will be found no comparison. Walter Raleigh.

   This is the natural fruit of sin, and the present revenge which it takes upon sinners, besides that fearful punishment which shall be inflicted on them in another life. John Tillotson.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Fearfuladjective

   full of fear, apprehension, or alarm; afraid; frightened

2. Fearfuladjective

   inclined to fear; easily frightened; without courage; timid

3. Fearfuladjective

   indicating, or caused by, fear

4. Fearfuladjective

   inspiring fear or awe; exciting apprehension or terror; terrible; frightful; dreadful

How to pronounce fearful?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say fearful in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of fearful in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of fearful in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of fearful in a Sentence

1. Imam Talal Eid:

   At times, I was fearful for my safety.

2. Jeb Bush:

   This should be the lowest-hanging fruit, to be honest with you, because this is a huge opportunity. Immigration is not a problem, we need young, dynamic people that can make an immediate contribution to our economy. We shouldn't be fearful of this, we should say, 'What an incredible opportunity.'.

3. Gina Duncan:

   The community was fearful of their lives and concerned that they were not being adequately protected and treated as equal citizens.

4. Courtney Radsch:

   We don't want journalists to be fearful of reporting on issues, it's not enough to mute or block somebody, you need to know if those threats are coming through, and we need more proactive responses from the tech platforms.

5. Susan Sontag:

   We live under continual threat of two equally fearful, but seemingly opposed, destinies: unremitting banality and inconceivable terror. It is fantasy, served out in large rations by the popular arts, which allows most people to cope with these twin specters.

Popularity rank by frequency of use