fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfir-səm 

1

a

: causing fear

a fearsome monster

b

: intense, extreme

fearsome determination

2

: timid, timorous

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun

Synonyms of fearsome

• formidable
• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating

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

With the fearsome offense, strong defense, and good goalies, there is no doubt that this team will be tough once again. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Photograph by Vincent Alban / Reuters The El Niño still growing in the Pacific is truly fearsome. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Washington, for example, could be tempted to force the regime to buckle with a more fearsome military assault—leading Iran to cause greater market turmoil and damage to the Gulf. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026

Such fearsome creatures posed a threat to the gods on Mount Olympus. — George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

fear entry 1 + -some entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

fearsome

adjective

fear·​some ˈfi(ə)r-səm 

1

: causing fear

2

: timid

fearsomely adverb

fearsomeness noun