fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfir-səm 

1

a

: causing fear

a fearsome monster

b

: intense, extreme

fearsome determination

2

: timid, timorous

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun

Synonyms

• alarming
• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of fearsome in a Sentence

at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed

after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst

Recent Examples on the Web

Nonetheless, the combination of a fearsome security apparatus and Assad’s elite network across ethnic and religious lines safeguarded him against the sort of coups that had felled numerous leaders between 1946 and 1970. —Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024

More than 100,000 people are still believed to be missing, disappeared into Damascus' fearsome security apparatus. —David Brennan, ABC News, 17 Dec. 2024

But the most fearsome obstacle Sam faces is, of course, herself. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

As much as Skarsgard’s fearsome Orlok, the movie belongs to Depp, whose performance is a revelation. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

fear entry 1 + -some entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfi(ə)r-səm 

1

: causing fear

2

: timid

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun