fearsome
gb/fˈɪɹsəm/ us/fˈɪɹsəm/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
frightening; causing fear
Something fearsome makes you feel afraid.
Usage pattern:
a fearsome [creature/person/thing]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with fearful (feeling afraid). Fearsome means causing fear.
Synonyms
frightening (More general and common; less dramatic.)
|
terrifying (Stronger; emphasizes extreme fear.)
|
scary (More informal; often less intense.)
Antonyms
harmless (Not likely to cause harm or fear.)
|
reassuring (Makes you feel calm rather than afraid.)
Collocations
fearsome creature
|fearsome monster
|fearsome animal
|fearsome sight
|fearsome noise
|fearsome appearance
|fearsome threat
|fearsome weapon
|fearsome storm
|fearsome legend
Themes
emotions
|danger
Examples
- The cave was guarded by a fearsome creature in the old story.
- From a distance, the ship looked fearsome in the fog.
- He tried to sound fearsome, but everyone could tell he was joking.
Learner examples
- The dog looked fearsome.
- That sound is fearsome at night.
adjective
C1
property
2
very strong or formidable
Very strong or difficult to beat.
Usage pattern:
a fearsome [opponent/rival/team/reputation]
Common mistake:
Fearsome often means 'hard to face' (a fearsome opponent), not only 'scary-looking'.
Synonyms
formidable (Focuses on being difficult to deal with; often more formal.)
|
powerful (Emphasizes strength; not necessarily scary.)
|
intimidating (Emphasizes the effect on others (making them nervous).)
Antonyms
weak (Lacking strength or power.)
|
easy (Not difficult to face or defeat.)
Collocations
fearsome opponent
|fearsome rival
|fearsome team
|fearsome competitor
|fearsome fighter
|fearsome reputation
|fearsome defender
|fearsome attack
|fearsome challenge
|fearsome force
Themes
sports
|conflict
|power
Examples
- They have a fearsome defense this season.
- She developed a fearsome reputation for negotiating tough deals.
- The champion was a fearsome opponent in the final.
Learner examples
- Our team is fearsome now.
- He is a fearsome competitor.
adjective
informal
C1
property
3
very great; extreme (dialectal)
Very big or very bad (in some English).
Usage pattern:
a fearsome [amount/mess/time/headache]
Common mistake:
This use is not common in all regions; in general English, prefer huge, terrible, or awful.
Synonyms
huge (Common neutral choice for size or amount.)
|
awful (Common for very bad experiences; more general.)
|
terrible (Standard choice for severity; less regional.)
Antonyms
slight (Small in amount or degree.)
|
mild (Not severe or extreme.)
Collocations
a fearsome amount
|a fearsome mess
|a fearsome headache
|a fearsome time
|fearsome weather
Themes
intensifiers
Examples
- They made a fearsome mess of the kitchen after the party.
- We had a fearsome long walk back in the rain.
- He spent a fearsome amount of money on repairs.
Learner examples
- It was a fearsome mess.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fearsome
IPA
GB/fˈɪɹsəm/
US/fˈɪɹsəm/
Syllables & stress
fear - some (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fear)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fearsome
Word family
Expressions
fearsome critters
1/fˈɪɹsəm kɹˈɪtɚz/
fixed phrase
literary
mythical beasts of folklore
Funny folk stories about made-up wild animals.
Examples
- The old guidebook describes fearsome critters that supposedly lived in the woods.
- Campfire tales about fearsome critters kept the kids entertained.
fearsome foursome
1/fˈɪɹsəm fˈɔɹsəm/
fixed phrase
powerful group of four
A very strong group of four.
Examples
- The coach relied on a fearsome foursome of veteran players.
- Their fearsome foursome dominated the tournament from start to finish.
fearsome twosome
1/fˈɪɹsəm tˈusəm/
fixed phrase
powerful pair
A very strong pair.
Examples
- In midfield, they formed a fearsome twosome that controlled the game.
- The detectives made a fearsome twosome, solving cases quickly.