fearfulness

/'fiəfulnis/

Thân thiện

A child shows fearfulness during a thunderstorm.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The trait or state of being afraid: "Fearfulness" refers to a characteristic tendency to experience fear or to be easily frightened.
   • An emotion of anxiety or dread: "Fearfulness" is the specific feeling of fear experienced when anticipating a threat, danger, or pain, typically involving an urge to escape or confront the situation.

Examples

• Noun:
  • His chronic fearfulness made it difficult for him to try new things. (His persistent trait of being afraid prevented him from new experiences.)
  • A sudden fearfulness overcame her as she heard the strange noise in the dark. (A sudden emotion of dread seized her upon hearing the noise.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be filled with fearfulness": to be completely overwhelmed by a feeling of fear.
  • She was filled with fearfulness at the prospect of speaking in public.
• "A sense of fearfulness": a specific feeling or awareness of fear.
  • A deep sense of fearfulness settled over the camp as the storm approached.

Variants and Related Words

• Fearful (adj): feeling or showing fear; causing fear.
  • She gave a fearful glance at the dark alley.
• Fearlessly (adv): in a manner without fear.
  • The firefighter acted fearlessly.
• Fear (n): The more common base noun for the emotion itself.
  • He felt a surge of fear.

Synonyms

• Timidity: lack of courage or confidence.
• Apprehension: anxiety or fear that something bad will happen.
• Trepidation: a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.

Antonyms

• Fearlessness: lack of fear.
• Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one.
• Boldness: willingness to take risks; confidence.

Related Phrases

• In fear and trembling: in a state of great fear or anxiety.
  • They awaited the verdict in fear and trembling.
• For fear of: to avoid the risk of (something undesirable).
  • She spoke quietly for fear of waking the baby.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the trait of being afraid
2. an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• fear
• fright