Words / B2

FEERFL/ˈfɪəfl/

Fearful means afraid of something, or causing fear: fearful of; a fearful noise. Fear is the noun (already in the dictionary); afraid is everyday; fearsome stresses causing fear. Calling a character fearful is not analysis; quote the line. Mix-up: fearful vs fearless; cheerful; do not write fearful for ordinary caution with no fear named in the source.

Meaning

Afraid of something, or causing fear (fearful of).

Examples

• “Calling a character fearful is not analysis; quote the line, the literature paper said.”
• “A fearful storm featured in the weather diary, which is the causing-fear sense — still quote the wind speed if given.”

Good to know

fearful of; a fearful + noun. Noun: fear (already in A2). Close: afraid / frightened / fearsome. Trap: fearless / mere caution. Literature, PSHE, and geography. Afraid or causing fear — quote the line or the figure.

Near in meaning

afraid, frightened, apprehensive

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