fearsome

FIHR-suhm

Fearsome (adj) means Frightening, especially in appearance or reputation. Example: “The castle was guarded by a fearsome-looking dragon statue.”

adj

Frightening, especially in appearance or reputation.

"The castle was guarded by a fearsome-looking dragon statue."

"She built a fearsome reputation as a courtroom lawyer."

How to use fearsome

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishScary or intimidating, often because of size, power, or reputation.

Common pairings

fearsome reputation fearsome opponent

Word forms

more fearsome comparative, most fearsome superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The castle was guarded by a _____-looking dragon statue.

Etymology

From "fear" plus "-some," a suffix meaning "tending to cause."

Rhymes for fearsome

ome some come home Rome nome tome dome gnome genome become income

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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.

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B2 vocabulary words