fearful

Everyday

1. Fearful means afraid or worried that something bad will happen. tree →
2. (old-fashioned) Fearful means frightening or terrible. tree →
3. (informal, old) Fearful can mean very great or very bad: «a fearful mess». tree →

In the lessons

In stories it describes a character's feeling: «a fearful look». In older books and the Bible it can describe frightening things. In everyday life people say «afraid» or «scared» more often. Phrases: «fearful of», «fearful that».

Examples

• The fearful puppy hid under the bed. tree →
• She was fearful of the dark. tree →
• They were fearful that the bridge would break. tree →
• The children gave a fearful glance at the old house. tree →
• There was a fearful storm that night. tree →
• Don't be fearful — I'm here. tree →
• «Fear not,» said the angel to the fearful shepherds. tree →
• “Things!” he said. “Fearful and horrible, Billy! tree →

Note

Adjective; adverb: fearfully; noun: fearfulness. One l at the end: fearful (the suffix «-ful» has one l). «Fearful of» something. Opposite: fearless, brave. Note the two opposite senses: a fearful person feels fear, but a fearful sight causes fear.

In Jewish tradition

It can mean awe-inspiring, as with God "fearful in praises." It can also mean afraid, as with the soldiers who may go home.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that God is to be praised with awe. Soldiers who are afraid are sent home so that fear does not spread, and some read this as fear of one's own sins.

Examples

• Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the mighty? who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Torah EXO.15.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say: 'What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as his heart.' (Torah DEU.20.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Say to them that are of a fearful heart: 'Be strong, fear not'; behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God He will come and save you. (Prophets ISA.35.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Now therefore make proclamation in the ears of the people, saying: Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.' And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. (Prophets JDG.7.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Adjective; adverb: fearfully; noun: fearfulness. One l at the end: fearful (the suffix «-ful» has one l). «Fearful of» something. Opposite: fearless, brave. Note the two opposite senses: a fearful person feels fear, but a fearful sight causes fear.