fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfir-səm How to pronounce fearsome (audio)
Synonyms of fearsomenext
1
a
: causing fear
a fearsome monster
b
: intense, extreme
fearsome determination
2
: timid, timorous
fearsomely adverb
fearsomeness noun

Synonyms of fearsome

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The film fails to convey the fearsome, inexplicable beauty that Herzog clearly sees (or perhaps once saw) in this story. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 Eggers and Depp are set to collaborate again, on Werwulf, another gothic horror film about a fearsome monster, which is expected to be released on Christmas Day, 2026. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 If all goes according to plan, the Rams will ride that fearsome defensive front all the way to the championship that so narrowly eluded them last winter. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026 Among the missing, are more than 900 workers, like Chandra from the many hydropower projects that bore deep into the world’s highest mountain range to tap into the fearsome energy unleashed by its raging rivers. — Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fearsome

Word History

Etymology

fear entry 1 + -some entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fearsome was in 1768

Browse Nearby Words

fearnought
fearsome
fear the worst
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fearsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fearsome. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fearsome

adjective
fear·​some ˈfi(ə)r-səm How to pronounce fearsome (audio)
1
: causing fear
2
: timid
fearsomely adverb
fearsomeness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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