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fearful (adj.)

mid-14c., "causing fear," from fear (n.) + -ful. Meaning "full of fear, timid" (now less common) also is from mid-14c. As a mere emphatic, from 1630s. Related: Fearfully; fearfulness.

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Definitions of fearful from WordNet

fearful (adj.)
causing fear or dread or terror;
a fearful howling
Synonyms: awful / dire / direful / dread / dreaded / dreadful / fearsome / frightening / horrendous / horrific / terrible
fearful (adj.)
experiencing or showing fear;
a fearful glance
fearful of criticism
fearful (adj.)
lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted; "cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then"- P.B.Shelley;
Synonyms: cowardly
fearful (adj.)
extremely distressing;
fearful slum conditions
Synonyms: frightful
fearful (adj.)
timid by nature or revealing timidity;
cast fearful glances at the large dog
Synonyms: timorous / trepid
From wordnet.princeton.edu