Synonyms of fearsome

fearsome

adjective

ˈfir-səm 

1

as in formidable

causing fear

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• formidable
• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating
• dread
• fearful
• alarming
• horrifying
• shocking
• dreadful
• frightful
• eerie
• startling
• ghastly
• creepy
• redoubtable
• forbidding
• dire
• gruesome
• horrendous
• direful
• spine-chilling
• eery
• threatening
• troubling
• hair-raising
• disturbing
• trying
• daunting
• unnerving
• discouraging
• hideous
• perturbing
• disquieting
• disconcerting
• weird
• demoralizing
• nightmarish
• dismaying
• monstrous
• grisly
• distressing
• appalling
• awful
• horrid
• macabre
• bone-chilling
• atrocious
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• comforting
• soothing
• calming
• relaxing
• inviting
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• consoling
• nonthreatening
• tranquillizing
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intense
• fierce
• intensive
• ferocious
• terrible
• deep
• furious
• heavy
• violent
• vicious
• fearful
• profound
• explosive
• acute
• dreadful
• frightful
• ghastly
• exquisite
• blistering
• vehement
• excruciating
• keen
• heavy-duty
• almighty
• hard
• hellacious
• intensified
• harsh
• aggravated
• heightened
• severe
• enhanced
• concentrated
• magnified
• stressed
• exhaustive
• thorough
• accentuated
• deepened
• rigorous
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• moderate
• weak
• soft
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• decreased
• eased
• subdued
• toned (down)
• diminished
• moderated
• reduced
• lightened
• lessened
• alleviated
• abated

3

as in timid

easily frightened

the more fearsome of the two children would only peer at the guests from a distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• timid
• scary
• fearful
• shy
• terrified
• timorous
• afraid
• scared
• yellow
• tremulous
• mousy
• fainthearted
• mousey
• startled
• dastardly
• skittish
• craven
• panicked
• cowardly
• pusillanimous
• anxious
• unheroic
• apprehensive
• gutless
• nervous
• spooky
• alarmed
• horrified
• jittery
• spineless
• panicky
• spooked
• jumpy
• chicken
• shocked
• lily-livered
• chickenhearted
• unnerved
• poltroon
• milk-livered
• chicken-livered
• terrorized
• panic-stricken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• daring
• bold
• hardy
• adventurous
• fearless
• brave
• audacious
• heroic
• courageous
• gutsy
• valiant
• dauntless
• intrepid
• venturesome
• dashing
• undaunted
• confident
• stout
• gallant
• stalwart
• valorous
• adventuresome
• venturous
• assured
• heroical
• unflinching
• resolute
• firm
• determined
• plucky
• stouthearted
• lionhearted
• spirited
• doughty
• undeterred
• unswerving
• game
• greathearted
• self-assured
• self-confident
• spunky
• mettlesome

Examples of fearsome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Saturday’s 87 came on the 94th anniversary of the date the temperature in Washington reached the fearsome figure of 106 degrees, the highest reading ever recorded in the District. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 21 July 2024

As an antagonist, Nalo is far more fearsome and powerful than anything Moana has encountered before — but he's meant to reflect the film's emphasis on community and connection. —EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024

The Dodge Viper has always been a fearsome machine. —Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 17 July 2024

The most fearsome of all adult xenomorphs is the queen, towering and murderously defensive of her brood. —Scottie Andrew, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024