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
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Recent Examples of afraid
On a Florida off-date, the guitarist, who was afraid to fly, agreed to get in a private plane with the tour bus driver, who was also a pilot.
—
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2025
The store takes in donations of diapers and baby formula, where people who are the least afraid of being picked up by ICE in their home can go to get donations for those who are unable to earn a living or get to a store.
—Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
Don’t be afraid to widen your search, though, looking at properties in nearby towns such as Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte, or even Little River, South Carolina.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025
Minor says many of her patients and families are deeply afraid of what the Trump administration has been doing.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2025
The store takes in donations of diapers and baby formula, where people who are the least afraid of being picked up by ICE in their home can go to get donations for those who are unable to earn a living or get to a store.
—Literary Hub, 21 July 2025
Don’t be afraid to widen your search, though, looking at properties in nearby towns such as Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte, or even Little River, South Carolina.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025
Minor says many of her patients and families are deeply afraid of what the Trump administration has been doing.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for afraid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afraid
Adjective
-
There’s people that are getting into trouble because the powers that be are scared, too.—
Mario Koran,
jsonline.com,
12 July 2025
-
Most notable in the repeat of Man of Steel elements and themes, there’s the Kryptonian message threatening earth, which makes the public scared, so Superman turns himself in to government authorities.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Many people may be intrinsically frightened of robots.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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More than 25,000 onlookers came to see the whale over the next few days, but when a thunderstorm erupted on July 5, the whale became frightened.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Raids on California farms in June already left crops unharvested and farm operators fearful of more crackdowns to come.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
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After raids on California farms in June, some crops have been left unharvested, with farm operators fearful of more crackdowns to come.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Still, Russia is genuinely alarmed at the prospect of US weapons, even defensive Patriot missile defense systems, flowing back into Ukraine.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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The reactions on social media were swift and alarmed.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Regardless, artists such as Kristin Chenoweth and Rachel Zegler are shocked.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
18 July 2025
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The chance rediscovery of the little spotted kiwi, not seen on the mainland since 1978 both shocked and delighted conservationists.—
Lauren Liebhaber
July 16,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Many tourism leaders in gateway towns near them are worried tourists will start going elsewhere if the park experience or its environment gets eroded.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
24 July 2025
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Among the key findings: Fifty-six percent of consumers are worried about affording their school supplies due to price hikes from tariffs.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afraid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afraid. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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