Skip to content
WORDS, MADE CLEAR.
Your everyday English companion

English dictionary

feared Meaning & Definition

/fɪəd/

What Does Feared Mean?

As an adjective, feared means Pertaining to someone or thing that causes great fear in others. It is also used to mean Regarded with fear, respect, or reverence. As a verb, it means simple past and past participle of fear. As a verb, it means To feel fear about (something or someone); to be afraid of; to consider or expect with alarm.

Feared: Key Facts

Part of speechadjective, verb
Pronunciation/fɪəd/
Synonymsafraid, frightened and scared
Antonymsbelittle and contemn
Comparative / superlativemore feared, most feared

Feared Definition (Adjective)

  1. Pertaining to someone or thing that causes great fear in others.
  2. Regarded with fear, respect, or reverence.
  3. Frightened, afraid.

Feared as a Verb

  1. simple past and past participle of fear

Verb

  1. To feel fear about (something or someone); to be afraid of; to consider or expect with alarm.

    I fear the worst will happen.

  2. To feel fear (about something).

    Never fear; help is always near.

  3. (used with for) To worry about, to feel concern for, to be afraid for.

    She fears for her son’s safety.

  4. To venerate; to feel awe towards.

    People who fear God can be found in Christian churches.

  5. To regret.

    I fear I have bad news for you: your husband has died.

  6. To cause fear to; to frighten.
  7. To be anxious or solicitous for.
  8. To suspect; to doubt.

Synonyms of Feared

Feared synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Feared

Feared in a Sentence

I fear the worst will happen.

Never fear; help is always near.

She fears for her son’s safety.

People who fear God can be found in Christian churches.

I fear I have bad news for you: your husband has died.

Word Forms & Grammar

feared (comparative more feared, superlative most feared)

feared

Words That Rhyme With Feared

Origin of Feared

Origin 1: From Middle English fard, feard, ferd, ferde, fered, equivalent to fear +‎ -ed.[1]

Origin 2: From Middle English ferd, feerd, fered, equivalent to fear +‎ -ed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Feared

Is feared an adjective or a verb?

Feared is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.

What is another word for feared?

Words with a similar meaning to feared include afraid, frightened and scared. See the full list of feared synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of feared?

Words opposite in meaning to feared are belittle and contemn.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of feared?

The comparative form is more feared and the superlative form is most feared.

More About Feared On Meaning Stash

More Words Starting With “Fea”