fear·ful 
/ˈfiɚfəl/ adjective
/ˈfiɚfəl/ adjective [more fearful; most fearful] 1 : feeling fear
▪ He plays the role of a timid and fearful clerk. — often + of ▪ fearful [=afraid] of danger ▪ He was fearful of being left behind. = He was fearful that he would be left behind. — sometimes + for ▪ She was fearful for their safety. [=she was afraid that they were not safe] 2 : showing or caused by fear
▪ a fearful glance 3 : very bad or extreme
▪ a fearful waste ▪ fearful cold ▪ They won the war but at a fearful cost. 4 : causing fear
▪ I spent a fearful night alone in the woods.
▪ He plays the role of a timid and fearful clerk. — often + of ▪ fearful [=afraid] of danger ▪ He was fearful of being left behind. = He was fearful that he would be left behind. — sometimes + for ▪ She was fearful for their safety. [=she was afraid that they were not safe]
▪ a fearful glance
▪ a fearful waste ▪ fearful cold ▪ They won the war but at a fearful cost.
▪ I spent a fearful night alone in the woods.
— fear·ful·ly adverb
▪ fearfully cold ▪ She glanced fearfully out the window.
▪ fearfully cold ▪ She glanced fearfully out the window.
— fear·ful·ness noun [noncount]
