Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Causing fear or dread; terrifying: Describes something that inspires great fear, alarm, or apprehension due to its appearance, nature, or potential.
   • Extremely impressive or formidable in a way that inspires awe or respect: Can describe something so powerful or intense that it commands a fearful admiration.

Usage and Examples

• As an adjective:
  • The dragon in the story was a fearsome creature with scales like iron and breath of fire.
  • She faced the interview panel with a fearsome reputation for asking difficult questions.
  • The boxer had a fearsome punch that ended many fights early.

Advanced Usage

• "fearsome reputation": A reputation that is so formidable it causes fear or great respect.
  • The general was known for his fearsome reputation on the battlefield.
• Used to intensify a quality, implying it is so great it is almost frightening.
  • He has a fearsome intellect. (Meaning: an intellect so powerful it is daunting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fear (n/verb): The unpleasant emotion caused by threat or danger; to be afraid of.
• Fearful (adj): Feeling afraid; also can mean causing fear (similar to fearsome, but often describes the feeling more than the cause).
• Fearfully (adv): In a frightened manner; or, to an extreme degree (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Terrifying: Causing extreme fear.
• Formidable: Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively powerful, intense, or capable.
• Daunting: Seeming difficult to deal with in a way that makes you feel slightly afraid.
• Dreadful: Causing great fear or suffering; also used informally to mean very bad.

Antonyms

• Reassuring: Making someone feel less afraid or anxious.
• Comforting: Providing consolation or a feeling of ease.
• Unimpressive: Not inspiring respect or admiration.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A fearsome sight: Something that looks very frightening.
  • The approaching storm clouds were a fearsome sight.
• A fearsome opponent: A rival or adversary who is very difficult to defeat and thus inspires fear.
  • In the chess tournament, she was considered a fearsome opponent.

Adjective

1. causing fear or dread or terror
   • 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