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fear·ful
 fearful
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- pronunciation:
- fir
f
 l
- features:
- Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
having feelings of fear or apprehension.
She'd always been fearful of air travel, but there was no way to avoid it now.With the takeover by the new leader, many were fearful for the future.- antonyms:
- adventuresome, daring, dauntless, fearless, spunky, unafraid, undaunted
- similar words:
- afraid, apprehensive, coward, faint, nervous, scared, timid, timorous, tremendous
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| definition 2: |
causing or likely to cause fear.
The fearful storm was approaching rapidly.The prime minister made the fearful announcement that the country was now at war.- antonyms:
- reassuring
- similar words:
- dire, dread, dreadful, ghastly, terrible
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| definition 3: |
extreme or intense.
There is now a fearful degree of anger among the citizens. |
| definition 4: |
overwhelmed by awe or reverence.
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| related words: |
anxious, cowardly, dire, fainthearted, insecure, serious, shy, spineless, yellow |
| derivations: |
fearfully (adv.), fearfulness (n.) |
The word fearful
contains the following part:
-ful1
Old English
adjective-forming suffix
that means full of
  More about this word part:
The suffix -ful1 attaches to native English nouns to form adjectives.
Example words:
awful, beautiful, careful, cheerful, colorful, delightful, doubtful, dutiful, faithful, fearful, graceful, harmful, helpful, hopeful, joyful, meaningful, painful, peaceful, plentiful, powerful, purposeful, respectful, skillful, stressful, successful, thankful, thoughtful, wasteful, useful
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