# fearful

/ˈfɪɹfəɫ/ (US) · /fˈiəfəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fearful
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. feeling afraid

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling afraid that something bad might happen.

For teachers: feeling or showing fear; apprehensive that a particular outcome may occur.

- Many people are fearful of losing their jobs during the economic crisis.
- The residents remained fearful of further flooding, keeping their most valuable possessions on the upper floors of their homes.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of' or a 'that' clause.

### 2. causing fear

adjective · CEFR B2

something that is very scary or frightening.

For teachers: causing or capable of causing fear; inspiring awe or dread.

- The tiger let out a fearful roar that echoed through the trees.
- The storm unleashed a fearful power, uprooting ancient oaks and tossing small boats onto the shore like toys.

### 3. very bad

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

extremely bad or unpleasant.

For teachers: shockingly bad or intense; used to emphasize a negative quality.

- The accident was a fearful sight that I will never forget.
- The refugees had endured fearful hardships during their long journey across the border.

Teaching tip: In modern English, this sense is often replaced by 'terrible' or 'horrific' in casual speech.

### 4. extremely

adverb · CEFR C2 · Dialect

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' in some local styles of speaking.

For teachers: used as an intensifier meaning 'extremely' or 'very'.

- It is fearful cold outside this morning, so wear a heavy coat.
- He was a fearful long time in returning from the village, causing his family much worry.

Usage: Typically used as an intensifier before an adjective.

## Examples

- She is fearful of losing her job during the company merger.
- The local residents are fearful that the new highway will increase noise pollution in their quiet neighborhood.
- The market remains fearful of a sudden interest rate hike, leading many investors to move their capital into safer, more stable assets until the central bank clarifies its position.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.