Afraid — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ə-ˈfrād/

Meaning & Definition of Afraid

Afraid (adjective)

  1. filled with fear or apprehension
  2. filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation
  3. having a dislike for something

Afraid (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. filled with fear or dread

    "Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago"

    similar: affrighted, aghast, alarmed, fearful, frightened, horrified, horror-struck, hysterical, scared, scary, shocked, spooked, terrified, terrorized
    related: chicken, fainthearted, fearsome, shrinking, shy, timid, timorous, tremulant, tremulous, agitated, anxious, apprehensive, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, funky, jittery, jumpy, nervous, panicked, panicky, panic-stricken, perturbed, skittish, uneasy, upset, worried, phobic, appalled, dismayed, startled, cowed, daunted, intimidated, unnerved, coward, cowardly, craven, gutless, lily-livered, pusillanimous, careful, cautious, heedful, prudent, unadventurous, wary
    opposite: fearless, unafraid
    near: adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daredevil, daring, dashing, gutsy, plucky, spirited, spunky, venturesome, venturous, brave, courageous, gallant, hardy, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous, assured, collected, composed, confident, cool, sanguine, sure, unperturbed, dauntless, resolute, undaunted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Afraid

The most common words with a similar meaning to Afraid:

affrighted, aghast, alarmed, fearful, frightened, horrified, horror-struck, hysterical, scared, scary, shocked, spooked, terrified, terrorized

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Afraid

Words with the opposite meaning of Afraid:

fearless, unafraid

Related Words for Afraid

chicken, fainthearted, fearsome, shrinking, shy, timid, timorous, tremulant, tremulous, agitated, anxious, apprehensive, disconcerted, disquieted, disturbed, funky, jittery, jumpy, nervous, panicked, panicky, panic-stricken, perturbed, skittish, uneasy, upset, worried, phobic, appalled, dismayed

Near Antonyms of Afraid

adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daredevil, daring, dashing, gutsy, plucky, spirited, spunky, venturesome, venturous, brave, courageous, gallant, hardy, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, manful, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous, assured, collected, composed, confident

Origin & Etymology of Afraid

Middle English affraied, afraied, from past participle of affraien "to disturb, frighten" affray:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Afraid

Words & Phrases Containing Afraid

afraid for, afraid not, afraid so, afraid to say

Frequently Asked Questions about Afraid

What does "Afraid" mean?

"Afraid" means filled with fear or apprehension. As an adjective, it is defined as: filled with fear or apprehension.

What is another word for "Afraid"?

Other words for "Afraid" include affrighted, aghast, alarmed, fearful, frightened, horrified, horror-struck and hysterical. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Afraid" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Afraid"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Afraid". Common alternatives include affrighted, aghast, alarmed, fearful, frightened, horrified, horror-struck, hysterical, scared and scary.

What is the opposite of "Afraid"?

Antonyms of "Afraid" include fearless and unafraid. Near antonyms include adventuresome, adventurous, audacious and bold.

How do you use "Afraid" in a sentence?

Examples of "Afraid" in a sentence: "Melissa is afraid of flying, so she takes a train from Boston to visit her brother in Chicago".

Is "Afraid" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Afraid" is an adjective.

Is "Afraid" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Afraid" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Afraid"?

"Afraid" is pronounced /ə-ˈfrād/.