fearful

Adjective (5)

1. experiencing or showing fear“a fearful glance”“fearful of criticism”Opposite fearlessSimilar afraid
2. 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”Synonyms: awfuldiredirefuldreaddreadeddreadfulfearsomefrighteninghorrendoushorrificterribleOpposite unalarmingSimilar alarming
3. lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted“cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then — P.B.Shelley”Synonyms: cowardlySimilar chicken, craven, poltroon, caitiff, dastard, pusillanimous, faint, funkyRelates to cowardice, cowardlinessSee also afraid, timid, ignoble
4. extremely distressing“fearful slum conditions”“a frightful mistake”Synonyms: frightfulOpposite goodSimilar bad
5. timid by nature or revealing timidity“timorous little mouse”“in a timorous tone”“cast fearful glances at the large dog”Synonyms: timoroustrepidOpposite boldSimilar timid