Fearsome
Fearsome adjective - Causing fear.
Usage example: at night the child would always imagine that there were fearsome monsters lurking under his bed
Scary is a synonym for fearsome in fear topic. In some cases you can use "Scary" instead an adjective "Fearsome", when it comes to topics like alarming. informal substitute
Scary
Scary adjective - Causing fear.
Usage example: a scary movie that gave the child nightmares for weeks afterwards
Fearsome is a synonym for scary in fear topic. You can use "Fearsome" instead an adjective "Scary", if it concerns topics such as frightening. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Being scary was intentional — the doctors had to be fearsome and barely-trusted, half mythical figures, or else they'd get mobbed by the sick every time they went out.
Source: White Mask of Doom -
If you thought stabbing babies to death was scary, the Real Life version would be among the most fearsome predators ever.
Source: Series / Planet Dinosaur -
Scary Black Man: The Duke of New York (played by Isaac Hayes), who is not only physically imposing but has a fearsome reputation throughout the city-prison.
Source: Film / Escape from New York
Cite this Source
Scary and Fearsome. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/fearsome/scary
Fearsome & Scary. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/fearsome/scary>.
Scary or Fearsome. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/fearsome/scary.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "fearsome" and "scary" have occurred on timeline