1
as in formidable
causing fear
at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed
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2
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
after working all afternoon in the hot sun, I had developed a fearsome thirst
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3
as in timid
easily frightened
the more fearsome of the two children would only peer at the guests from a distance
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fearsome
While Harvey and Mike were the beating heart (and Jessica, the fearsome lioness) of Suits, the show’s ensemble formed its strong backbone:
Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), Harvey’s petulant, heart-on-his-sleeve frenemy, became the kind of character audiences loved to hate, or even grew to love.
—
Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
But beneath the surface lurks a creature so fearsome, that his very name sends shivers down the spines of locals.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Whoever wins the job will have the support of a fearsome offense, led by Oakland and the powerful duo of Peyton Tsao and Hayden Hummel.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
The ‘Psycho’ persona Pearce had as a fearsome defender for the club and England was long gone, replaced by a man who had swapped launching wingers into row Z for going two-footed into a discussion about the plot of The Imitation Game.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearsome
Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
But beneath the surface lurks a creature so fearsome, that his very name sends shivers down the spines of locals.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Whoever wins the job will have the support of a fearsome offense, led by Oakland and the powerful duo of Peyton Tsao and Hayden Hummel.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
The ‘Psycho’ persona Pearce had as a fearsome defender for the club and England was long gone, replaced by a man who had swapped launching wingers into row Z for going two-footed into a discussion about the plot of The Imitation Game.
—Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fearsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearsome
Adjective
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JPMorgan said the stock is at an attractive entry point with lower expectations and a formidable path for growth.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2025
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The exec has formidable experience across the live-action and animation spheres as well as family fare.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This is due to the bodywork, interior work, and intense customization required to retrofit a new drivetrain under an old body.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2025
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Last year, intense protests and riots against immigration erupted throughout England after 17-year-old Axel Muganwa Rudakubana stabbed and killed young girls at a dance class.—
Abigail Anthony,
National Review,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Cannoli certainly seemed to be timid around dogs who bark a lot, leading Saulino to believe she felt intimidated by them.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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Zych was impressed by Lekki’s transformation from timid freshman to inspiring team leader.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The harsh environment, mostly devoid of human presence, feels almost terrifying in its vastness—but that feeling quickly gives way to awe and excitement.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2025
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The terrifying incident unfolded Saturday morning, shortly after the Boeing 767 lifted off from its runway at Newark Liberty Airport.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The bill has been met with both fierce opposition and staunch support from students, professors and community members across the state.—
Amanda McCard,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2025
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With Zverev looking to cement his dominance, Alcaraz aiming for a repeat title, and Fritz eager to defend home soil, the competition will be fierce from day one.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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People can discover new ways of relating to our bodies or different ways of thinking about transness or queerness in ways that aren’t so scary or alienating for them but that feel inviting and welcoming.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
3 Mar. 2025
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Weighty — and scary — subject matter for a tween, Blair got the role of Regan with just a couple of prior credits under her belt.—
Diana Pearl,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Strong’s interpretation of Roy Cohn in The Apprentice was tragicomic and frightening stuff.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2025
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Funny how quickly things change in the NHL. Or frightening.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The tool is designed for people who do intensive knowledge work in areas like finance, science, policy, and engineering.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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Because disability claims are done on paper and labor intensive, technology is not enough to solve the problem.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fearsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearsome. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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