Synonym Chooser

How is the word afraid different from other adjectives like it?

The words apprehensive and fearful are common synonyms of afraid. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

When is it sensible to use apprehensive instead of afraid?

The words apprehensive and afraid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

When can fearful be used instead of afraid?

The meanings of fearful and afraid largely overlap; however, fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of afraid These comments from Beasley could be used as motivation by the Knicks, but the Pistons guard isn't afraid to speak his mind. Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Our instincts are in sync, so now we are not allowed to be afraid; just do. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Sink stars as Shelby, a smoldering outcast amongst her classmates who isn’t afraid to speak truth to power. Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025 And most importantly, surround yourself with other women who think big, talk money openly, and aren’t afraid to build serious wealth. Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
  • The Bears should be hoping other teams are scared off by Campbell’s shorter-than-ideal arms.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
  • But much of the problem then was that Europeans were simply not scared enough to do their part.
    Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • When a deputy arrived, the victim was shaking and frightened, the complaint said.
    Dylan Gentile, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The next night, her sister Gwen said Selonia became frightened when a relative who was visiting Selonia spotted Jimmy Ray Barnes near her home.
    Vladimir Duthiers, Paul LaRosa, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Van Hollen added that Abrego Garcia was held in a cell with 25 other people and fearful of other prisoners who taunted him.
    Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • His family, angry and fearful, even staged an intervention to force the former teetotaler into rehab.
    Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • McCabe, who is in her 50s, has a chronic condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), and immediately became alarmed.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • My community is deeply alarmed at the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, city streets and online since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
    Ari Hart, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • As a result, the dwarf planet likely has an abundance of highly shocked material, which could be an important target for future sampling missions there.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Dia is shocked when she’s chosen for a highly coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Others are worried about the fate of the Smithsonian more broadly.
    Deborah Barfield Berry, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • At Chang Jiang, Wu had a warning for customers who are worried about their favorite products going away or getting more expensive.
    Allison Cho, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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