| Learning / English Dictionary |
AFRAID
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Filled with fear or apprehension
Example:
afraid to ask questions
Classified under:
Similar:
xenophobic (suffering from xenophobia; having abnormal fear or hatred of the strange or foreign)
white-lipped (having white lips from fear or terror)
unnerved (deprived of courage and strength)
triskaidekaphobic (suffering from triskaidekaphobia (abnormal fear of the number 13))
terror-stricken; terror-struck (struck or filled with terror)
numb (so frightened as to be unable to move; stunned or paralyzed with terror; petrified)
frightened; panic-stricken; panic-struck; panicked; panicky; terrified (thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation)
mysophobic (suffering from mysophobia; abnormally afraid of dirt or contamination)
aquaphobic; hydrophobic (abnormally afraid of water)
hunted (reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted)
horrified; horror-stricken; horror-struck (stricken with horror)
frightened; scared (made afraid)
fearful (experiencing or showing fear)
claustrophobic (suffering from claustrophobia; abnormally afraid of closed-in places)
hangdog (frightened into submission or compliance)
apprehensive (in fear or dread of possible evil or harm)
algophobic (suffering from algophobia; abnormally afraid of pain)
alarmed (experiencing a sudden sense of danger)
agoraphobic (suffering from agoraphobia; abnormally afraid of open or public places)
aghast; appalled; dismayed; shocked (struck with fear, dread, or consternation)
afeard; afeared (a pronunciation of afraid)
acrophobic (suffering from acrophobia; abnormally afraid of high places)
Also:
timid (showing fear and lack of confidence)
cowardly; fearful (lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted)
Attribute:
fear; fearfulness; fright (an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight))
Antonym:
unafraid (oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement
Example:
I'm afraid you're wrong
Classified under:
Similar:
concerned (feeling or showing worry or solicitude)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Feeling worry or concern or insecurity
Example:
I am afraid we have witnessed only the first phase of the conflict
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
concerned (feeling or showing worry or solicitude)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Having feelings of aversion or unwillingness
Example:
afraid to show emotion
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
disinclined (unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval)
Context examples:
A question about whether an individual is or was afraid of having a seizure.
(Afraid of Having a Seizure, NCI Thesaurus)
The girls had run away, but the bear called to them: “Snow-white and Rose-red, do not be afraid; wait, I will come with you.”
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
They may even be afraid to leave home.
(Anxiety, NIH: National Institute of Mental Health)
It can lead children and teenagers to feel tense and afraid.
(Bullying, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen.
(GAD-7 - Feel Afraid as if Something Awful Might Happen, NCI Thesaurus)
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?
(GDS - Afraid of Something Bad Happening, NCI Thesaurus)
A question about whether an individual feels or felt afraid as if something awful might happen.
(Feeling Afraid as if Something Awful Might Happen, NCI Thesaurus)
Emotional, social, spiritual, or physical pain or suffering that may cause a person to feel sad, afraid, depressed, anxious, or lonely.
(Distress, NCI Dictionary)
You can become angry, nervous, and afraid that someone's out to get you.
(Cocaine, NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse)
There were tigers and elephants and bears and wolves and foxes and all the others in the natural history, and for a moment Dorothy was afraid.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
