AFRAID Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

afraid

adjective

ə-ˈfrād

Definition of afraid next

as in scared

filled with fear or dread Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Meet Kristina Phillips Interior Design Design studio Escala Forma isn’t afraid to lean all the way into the tropical tropes of its hometown mixing banana-leaf motifs, wicker furniture, and pastel pink in one particular project so that there’s absolutely no mistaking its location, Miami. —

Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 19 Apr. 2026 Don't be afraid to step into your power. —

Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 Don’t be afraid to talk about eating a cookie in bed and getting crumbs all over the place. —

Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026 And as local business owner Leah Macloskie of Leah's Spa notes, the best experiences come from venturing beyond the main streets to discover local restaurants and shops, so don’t be afraid to explore. —

Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afraid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid

Adjective

So Tristian stood, waiting for his moment, preparing himself to do what everyone else was too scared to do.

— Empress Rasheem, Baltimore Sun, 19 Apr. 2026
People are scared, at the bottom line.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026