Definition

Adverb: 1. In a manner that shows or causes fear or alarm: Used to describe an action done with great fear, anxiety, or trepidation. 2. To an alarming or dreadful degree; extremely: Used as an intensifier, often informally, to mean 'very' or 'extremely'.

Usage and Examples

• Showing Fear or Alarm:
  • The child peeked fearfully around the corner, afraid of what she might see.
  • He fearfully awaited the results of his medical test.
• As an Intensifier (Extremely):
  • The exam was fearfully difficult; almost no one passed.
  • It's fearfully cold outside today.

Advanced Usage

• The use of fearfully as an intensifier ("fearfully difficult") is more common in British English and can sometimes sound slightly old-fashioned or literary.
• It can describe the manner of an observer's action () or the alarming nature of an event itself ().

Variants and Related Words

• Fearful (Adjective):
  • Feeling afraid; frightened. (She was fearful of the dark.)
  • Causing fear; terrible. (a fearful storm)
  • (Informal) Extremely bad, great. (a fearful mess)
• Fearlessness (Noun): The quality of being without fear.
• Fearfully is the adverbial form of the adjective fearful.

Synonyms

• Apprehensively: With anxiety or fear about the future.
• Timidly: In a manner showing a lack of courage or confidence.
• Nervously: In an agitated or anxious state of mind.
• Alarmingly: In a worrying or disturbing way.
• Extremely (for the intensifier use): To a very high degree.

Antonyms

• Fearlessly: Without fear; bravely.
• Boldly: In a confident and courageous way.
• Calmly: In a peaceful, quiet manner without agitation.

Notes on Meaning

The two main meanings are connected but distinct. The primary meaning relates directly to the emotion of fear. The secondary, intensifier meaning originates from the idea of something being so extreme it inspires awe or alarm (e.g., "fearfully beautiful").

Adverb

1. in an alarming manner
   • they were fearfully attacked
2. in fear, "she hurried down the stairs fearfully"