fearsome
11 synonyms for fearsome, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Frightening, especially in appearance or reputation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
direful
How to use fearsome
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fearsome reputation
fearsome opponent
Etymology
From "fear" plus "-some," a suffix meaning "tending to cause."
Full origin of fearsome →Frequently asked questions
What does “fearsome” mean?
The word “fearsome” means frightening, especially in appearance or reputation. In plain terms, scary or intimidating, often because of size, power, or reputation.
How do you pronounce “fearsome”?
“Fearsome” is pronounced FIHR-suhm (/ˈfɪɹsəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “fearsome” in a sentence?
Here is “fearsome” used in a sentence: “The castle was guarded by a fearsome-looking dragon statue.”
What part of speech is “fearsome”?
“Fearsome” is an adjective.
