afraid

[uh-freyd]

adjective

1. feeling fear; filled with apprehension.

   afraid to go.

   Synonyms: timorous, timid, apprehensive, fearful, scared
   Antonyms: fearless, confident, bold

2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like.

   I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

3. feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like.

   He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

afraid

/ əˈfreɪd /

adjective

1. (often foll by of) feeling fear or apprehension; frightened

   he was afraid of cats

2. reluctant (to do something), as through fear or timidity

   he was afraid to let himself go

3. regretful

   I'm afraid that I shall have to tell you to go

Other Word Forms

• half-afraid adjective
• unafraid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

Variant spelling of affrayed, past participle of affray to disturb, frighten

Word History and Origins

Origin of afraid¹

C14: affraied, past participle of _affray (to frighten)

Synonym Study

Afraid, alarmed, frightened, terrified all indicate a state of fear. Afraid implies inner apprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark. Alarmed implies that the feelings are aroused through realization of some imminent or unexpected danger to oneself or others: alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness. Frightened means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, especially that arising from apprehension of physical harm: frightened by an accident. Terrified suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear: terrified by an earthquake.

Example Sentences

Each time she received the ball, Carpenter was not afraid to take on Greenwood and provided countless opportunities with her direct approach and dangerous deliveries into the box.

From BBC

As Grant puts it, decency was Oliphant’s metric, and he wasn’t afraid to call out immorality where it lived.

From Salon

BBC sources said there remains a "fear factor" about what has been happening in the trust, and people are afraid of being targeted for speaking out.

From BBC

Ms Phillips urged the Department of Justice to release all the documents and information it has from the investigation, adding that many victims were afraid of repercussions if they went public with names themselves.

From BBC

So, I always tell people not to be afraid to do something that might be considered wrong.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxious 
• apprehensive 
• frightened 
• nervous 
• scared 
• shocked www.thesaurus.com
• suspicious 
• timid