fearful.

Afraid or strongly apprehensive about a possible threat.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• fearful of reprisals
• a fearful glance
• fearful for someone’s safety

On the page

Fearful of reprisals, the shopkeeper refused to be quoted.

She was fearful for her brother, not for herself.

His fearful glance toward the stairs told her where the intruder had gone.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. Fearful describes the experiencer; fearsome usually describes what causes fear. Also has an older sense meaning causing fear; keep that separate. Gradable with more/most; no inflectional endings normally needed.