fearful Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite experiencing or showing fear
    • a fearful glance
    • fearful of criticism
  2. adjective satellite causing fear or dread or terror
    dreadful; direful; horrific; frightening; terrible; dread; dire; horrendous; awful; dreaded; fearsome.
    • 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. adjective lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted
    cowardly.
    • cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then"- P.B.Shelley
  4. adjective satellite extremely distressing
    frightful.
    • fearful slum conditions
    • a frightful mistake
  5. adjective satellite timid by nature or revealing timidity
    timorous; trepid.
    • timorous little mouse
    • in a timorous tone
    • cast fearful glances at the large dog

WordNet

Fear"ful adjective
Definitions
  1. Full of fera, apprehension, or alarm; afraid; frightened.
    Anxious amidst all their success, and fearful amidat all their power. Bp. Warburton.
  2. inclined to fear; easily frightened; without courage; timid.
    What man is there that is fearful and fain-hearted? Deut. xx. 8.
  3. Indicating, or caused by, fear.
    Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. Shak.
  4. Inspiring fear or awe; exciting apprehension or terror; terrible; frightful; dreadful.
    This glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God. Deut. xxviii. 58.
    Death is a fearful thing. Shak.
    In dreams they fearful precipices tread. Dryden.
    Syn. -- Apprehensive; afraid; timid; timorous; horible; distressing; shoking; frightful; dreadful; awful.

Webster 1913