Pronunciation: [fˈi͡əfə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "fearful" is spelled with six letters, including two vowels and four consonants. The first vowel is pronounced as /ɪə/ like in "ear", and the second vowel is pronounced as /ʊ/ like in "put". The initial consonant is /f/ like in "fun", followed by /ɪ/ like in "bit", /ə/ like in "a", and finally /l/ like in "leap". The final /l/ in "fearful" is silent. This word means "causing or feeling fear".
Fearful is an adjective that describes an individual or a situation as being full of fear or experiencing intense worry, unease, or apprehension. It conveys a sense of being scared or afraid due to perceived threats, danger, or potential harm. Fearful can also refer to a state of extreme caution or being overly anxious about something that may happen in the future.
When used to describe a person, fearful indicates a state of being timid, easily frightened, or lacking courage in the face of real or imagined hazards. It suggests a heightened sensitivity to potential negative outcomes or consequences. A fearful person may exhibit signs of nervousness, such as trembling, palpitations, or a persistent sense of unease.
In the context of a situation or event, fearful signifies that it is likely to induce fear, distress, or worry in individuals who encounter it. This could be due to its perceived threatening nature, unpredictability, or the potential for negative outcomes. For example, a fearful storm refers to a storm that causes anxiety, trepidation, or alarm among those who experience it.
Additionally, fearful can also describe something as being awe-inspiring or intimidating in a way that elicits respect or reverence, often in a more archaic or poetic sense. In this usage, it highlights the intensity or magnitude of a situation or object, emphasizing its ability to inspire both fear and admiration.
• Fearfulness.
• Timorous; affected with fear; inspiring fear.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "fearful" originated in the 13th century and has its roots in the Middle English word "ferful", which was derived from the Old English word "fǣrful". This Old English term combined "fǣr" (meaning fear) with the suffix "-ful", which indicates fullness or characterized by. Ultimately, the word can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "fērō" and the Proto-Indo-European root "per", both of which also relate to the concept of fear.
