Fearful
adjective
Feeling or showing fear or anxiety.
She was fearful of the dark room.
Often appears as...
- fearful of
- fearful about
adjective
Causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm.
It was a fearful sight to behold.
Often appears as...
- fearful sight
- fearful sound
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Very large; extreme.
The project was a fearful expense.
Often appears as...
- fearful expense
- fearful waste
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
adjective
Feeling or showing fear or anxiety.
She was fearful of the dark room.
Often appears as...
- fearful of
- fearful about
adjective
Causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm.
It was a fearful sight to behold.
Often appears as...
- fearful sight
- fearful sound
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Very large; extreme.
The project was a fearful expense.
Often appears as...
- fearful expense
- fearful waste
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
Use 'fearful' to describe strong emotions, not just slight worries or concerns.
He was fearful before the surgery, trembling at the thought.
Pro Tip 2/3Fear Not Hate
'Fearful' implies anxiety, unlike 'hateful', which means strong dislike.
She's fearful of dogs, not because she hates them but because she was once bitten.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Reactions
Being 'fearful' can cause physical responses, such as shivering or goosebumps.
His voice was fearful, stuttering and barely audible.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
Use 'fearful' to describe strong emotions, not just slight worries or concerns.
He was fearful before the surgery, trembling at the thought.
Pro Tip 2/3Fear Not Hate
'Fearful' implies anxiety, unlike 'hateful', which means strong dislike.
She's fearful of dogs, not because she hates them but because she was once bitten.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Reactions
Being 'fearful' can cause physical responses, such as shivering or goosebumps.
His voice was fearful, stuttering and barely audible.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
Use 'fearful' to describe strong emotions, not just slight worries or concerns.
He was fearful before the surgery, trembling at the thought.
Pro Tip 2/3Fear Not Hate
'Fearful' implies anxiety, unlike 'hateful', which means strong dislike.
She's fearful of dogs, not because she hates them but because she was once bitten.
Pro Tip 3/3Physical Reactions
Being 'fearful' can cause physical responses, such as shivering or goosebumps.
His voice was fearful, stuttering and barely audible.
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Video examples
Why some people are more...
First, although they're not generally insensitive to other people's emotions, they are insensitive to signs that other people are in distress. And in particular, they have difficulty recognizing fearful facial expressions like this one. And fearful expressions convey urgent need and emotional distress, and they usually elicit compassion and a desire to help
Video examples
What the world can learn...
and afraid or you know, at the situation, I mean, the one thing that everyone can do right now, I think, is we can reach out to the people we know, we can encourage each of us to be our best selves in this moment. I really think it's what the world is going to need, when people are angry and fearful,
Video examples
Debunking the myth of...
“We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism to forget the merits of this fearful struggle, and to remember with equal admiration those who struck at the nation’s life, and those who struck to save it— those who fought for slavery and those who fought for liberty and justice.
Video examples
Want to be happy? Be...
There is a wave of gratefulness because people are becoming aware how important this is and how this can change our world. It can change our world in immensely important ways, because if you're grateful, you're not fearful, and if you're not fearful, you're not violent.
Video examples
Want interstellar...
many times we want to go to the same people for the solutions over and over again right but we have to have different people than these teams but we're sometimes afraid to have different people in the teams we're very fearful that someone might get ahead of us right
Video examples
The genius puppetry...
The ears are obviously a very important emotional indicator of the horse. When they point right back, the horse is fearful or angry, depending upon what's going on in front of him, around him. Or, when he's more relaxed, the head comes down
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari...
fearful voices in your head and fear and anger and hatred they harm you long before they harm anybody else if you walk around all day with all these hateful and fearful voices in your mind this destroys your peace of mind
Video examples
Firehouse Mascot PIPE Dog...
dogs don't see the danger what they see is a reaction to the situation and we react in panic nervous fearful and all these things they go to us to save their life we actually setting them up to get hurt
Video examples
Living Among Wolves PIPE...
to be surrounded by walls is simply incredible it's not something that I'm at all fearful of because I've seen that the true wolf the real wolf doesn't at all live up the stereotype they are not
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
take a more generous view"? Because it feels to me like there's so much at stake between how many people are trying to nudge that type of conversation versus the hostile, fearful conversation.
Video examples
Why some people are more...
First, although they're not generally insensitive to other people's emotions, they are insensitive to signs that other people are in distress. And in particular, they have difficulty recognizing fearful facial expressions like this one. And fearful expressions convey urgent need and emotional distress, and they usually elicit compassion and a desire to help
Video examples
What the world can learn...
and afraid or you know, at the situation, I mean, the one thing that everyone can do right now, I think, is we can reach out to the people we know, we can encourage each of us to be our best selves in this moment. I really think it's what the world is going to need, when people are angry and fearful,
Video examples
Debunking the myth of...
“We are sometimes asked in the name of patriotism to forget the merits of this fearful struggle, and to remember with equal admiration those who struck at the nation’s life, and those who struck to save it— those who fought for slavery and those who fought for liberty and justice.
Video examples
Want to be happy? Be...
There is a wave of gratefulness because people are becoming aware how important this is and how this can change our world. It can change our world in immensely important ways, because if you're grateful, you're not fearful, and if you're not fearful, you're not violent.
Video examples
Want interstellar...
many times we want to go to the same people for the solutions over and over again right but we have to have different people than these teams but we're sometimes afraid to have different people in the teams we're very fearful that someone might get ahead of us right
Video examples
The genius puppetry...
The ears are obviously a very important emotional indicator of the horse. When they point right back, the horse is fearful or angry, depending upon what's going on in front of him, around him. Or, when he's more relaxed, the head comes down
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari...
fearful voices in your head and fear and anger and hatred they harm you long before they harm anybody else if you walk around all day with all these hateful and fearful voices in your mind this destroys your peace of mind
Video examples
Firehouse Mascot PIPE Dog...
dogs don't see the danger what they see is a reaction to the situation and we react in panic nervous fearful and all these things they go to us to save their life we actually setting them up to get hurt
Video examples
Living Among Wolves PIPE...
to be surrounded by walls is simply incredible it's not something that I'm at all fearful of because I've seen that the true wolf the real wolf doesn't at all live up the stereotype they are not
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
take a more generous view"? Because it feels to me like there's so much at stake between how many people are trying to nudge that type of conversation versus the hostile, fearful conversation.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Helen Garner
Australian Novelist
I think that there must be a point of self-immersion in a story that is a point of no return. You get far enough in that the story has really touched you to the core and deeply troubled you and made you unhappy and fearful, and then how do you get out of that? I'm a writer, so my way of getting out of that is to write.
Quote examples
Rihanna
American Musician
I don't have time to be lonely. And I get fearful of relationships because I feel guilty about wanting someone to be completely faithful and loyal, when I can't even give them 10 percent of the attention that they need. It's just the reality of my time, my life, my schedule.
Quote examples
Genesis P-Orridge
English Musician
Even if the world outside is destroying itself and fragmented and paranoid and fearful, the job of the artist is to embrace and hold people and say, 'It's OK, be safe here.
Quote examples
Jackie Speier
American Politician
My life experiences have helped me to be less fearful. In politics, that has allowed me to take on issues sooner rather than later.
Quote examples
Nick Wooster
American Designer
I'm probably one of the most fearful persons in the world, but not when it comes to getting dressed.
Quote examples
Tan Cheng Bock
Singaporean Politician
I hope to encourage younger Singaporeans not to be so fearful.
Quote examples
Umberto Eco
Italian Novelist
Nothing gives a fearful man more courage than another's fear.
Quote examples
William Gurnall
English Author
Humble souls are fearful of their own strength.
Quote examples
Kendra Wilkinson
American Celebrity
I'm a fearful person. I'm afraid of everything.
Quote examples
Idris Elba
British Actor
I would never be fearful of any character.
Quote examples
Helen Garner
Australian Novelist
I think that there must be a point of self-immersion in a story that is a point of no return. You get far enough in that the story has really touched you to the core and deeply troubled you and made you unhappy and fearful, and then how do you get out of that? I'm a writer, so my way of getting out of that is to write.
Quote examples
Rihanna
American Musician
I don't have time to be lonely. And I get fearful of relationships because I feel guilty about wanting someone to be completely faithful and loyal, when I can't even give them 10 percent of the attention that they need. It's just the reality of my time, my life, my schedule.
Quote examples
Genesis P-Orridge
English Musician
Even if the world outside is destroying itself and fragmented and paranoid and fearful, the job of the artist is to embrace and hold people and say, 'It's OK, be safe here.
Quote examples
Jackie Speier
American Politician
My life experiences have helped me to be less fearful. In politics, that has allowed me to take on issues sooner rather than later.
Quote examples
Nick Wooster
American Designer
I'm probably one of the most fearful persons in the world, but not when it comes to getting dressed.
Quote examples
Tan Cheng Bock
Singaporean Politician
I hope to encourage younger Singaporeans not to be so fearful.
Quote examples
Umberto Eco
Italian Novelist
Nothing gives a fearful man more courage than another's fear.
Quote examples
William Gurnall
English Author
Humble souls are fearful of their own strength.
Quote examples
Kendra Wilkinson
American Celebrity
I'm a fearful person. I'm afraid of everything.
Quote examples
Idris Elba
British Actor
I would never be fearful of any character.
Example 1 of 10
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