Find Synonyms

afraid Synonyms

Another word for afraid

Choosing another word for afraid depends on context, so the 19 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Feeling fear, dread, or apprehension about a potential danger or unpleasant event.

Usage Example

"The young boy was scared of the dark and asked to keep the hallway light on."

Strongest
scared
frightened
fearful
Strong
terrified
petrified
alarmed
panicked
spooked

• adjective (Context 2)

Anxious or worried that something undesirable might happen or be true.

Usage Example

"She was worried of offending her hosts if she declined the second helping of dinner."

Strongest
worried
anxious
apprehensive
Strong
nervous
uneasy
concerned
hesitant
reluctant

• adjective (Context 3)

Feeling polite regret or apology when stating an unpleasant fact or declining a request.

Usage Example

"I am sorry we have no tables available for tonight without a prior reservation."

Strongest
sorry
Strong
regretful
apologetic

Opposites of afraid

The opposite of afraid shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

unafraid
fearless
confident
brave
unworried
courageous
glad
pleased
See all opposites of afraid

• Nearby Words

aforesaid
aforethought
afoul
afraid
afresh
african daisy
african elephant

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Afraid. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/afraid
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