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fearful

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adjective British English pronunciation: fearful /ˈfɪə(r)f(ə)l/
  1. 1
    frightened

    Fearful parents kept their children indoors.

    fearful (that):

    We’re fearful that fighting will start up again.

    fearful of:

    Fearful of another attack, civilians are fleeing the capital.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  fearfulThesaurus entry for this meaning of fearful
  2. 2
    informal old-fashioned used for emphasizing how bad someone or something is

    She’s a fearful gossip.

    a fearful mess/muddle

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  fearfulThesaurus entry for this meaning of fearful

derived word

fearfulness

noun [uncountable]

This is the British English definition of fearful. View American English definition of fearful.

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