fearful with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fearful with" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used when describing someone who feels fear in relation to something or someone. Example: "She felt fearful with the thought of speaking in front of a large audience."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"I am not surprised people are fearful with some of the stuff that is being put out by I am not sure who," he said.

The Guardian

The men in his family, John thinks, were not like Jacob, so frail and fearful, with his girlish lips and trembling Adam's apple.

The New Yorker

One NGO worker with extensive contacts around the country states that though they "lived under undeniable fear with Kim Jong Il as the leader of the nation, they are surely even more fearful with him gone".

The Economist

And so did the speculations, which got easier and less fearful with every moment that we were still unannihilated.... Less and less frightened, I arrived at 85th Street and Third Avenue, parted company with my companion and stepped down into an atmosphere that was enchanted.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's important to acquaint yourself with facts and reality and it's ok to feel emotional i.e angry or fearful with what we find.

Huffington Post

But it's hard not to get frustrated at the way politicians nurture fear by calling for draconian travel bans from West Africa, or the way cable news caters to the fearful with scary-looking poll questions.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And it has produced young people who are anxious, fearful and with few of the resources needed to cope with the new or unexpected.

The Guardian - Opinion

Experimenting with rats, Nader reminded animals of a conditioned fearful memory with a musical tone (previously linked to an electric shock), and subsequently administered a beta-blocker.

BBC

'We are a fearful people with a history of the politics of fear in election campaigns.'.

Vice

Comparing brain activity in trials where the T2 target was a fearful face with trials where T2 was a neutral face was associated with activity increase in bilateral ventral striatum.

Cerebral Cortex

It is, however, not known if the changes in sleep architecture after fear conditioning are essentially associated with the consolidation of fearful memory or with fear itself.

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "fearful with" is understandable, consider using more common alternatives like "afraid of" or "scared of" for clearer and more natural-sounding writing.

Common error

Avoid using "fearful with" excessively in formal writing, as it may be perceived as less polished than alternatives like "afraid of" or "apprehensive about".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fearful with" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, modifying a noun or pronoun by describing a state of fear experienced in relation to something. As indicated by Ludwig, this construction is less common than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "fearful with" is less common and may sound less natural than alternatives like "afraid of" or "scared of". Ludwig's analysis suggests that it is primarily used in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While understandable, opting for more conventional alternatives can improve clarity and fluency. As Ludwig AI noted, there is nothing wrong with the phrase but might not be the best choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afraid of

Uses a more common preposition to indicate the object of fear.

scared of

Similar to "afraid of" but often implies a more immediate or intense sense of fear.

apprehensive about

Indicates a sense of unease or worry about a future event or situation.

anxious about

Expresses worry or nervousness, often regarding potential outcomes.

worried about

Indicates concern or anxiety about a specific issue or situation.

concerned about

Similar to "worried about" but can also imply a sense of responsibility or care.

filled with fear

Emphasizes the overwhelming presence of fear.

in fear of

Highlights the state of being afraid of something.

terrorized by

Indicates extreme fear caused by a specific threat or event.

intimidated by

Implies fear caused by a perceived power imbalance or threat.

FAQs

What does "fearful with" mean?

The phrase "fearful with" describes someone experiencing fear in relation to something. However, it's not as common as alternatives like "afraid of" or "scared of".

How can I use "fearful with" in a sentence?

You can use "fearful with" to indicate a feeling of fear associated with a situation or person. For example: "She was fearful with the thought of public speaking." However, remember that other options might sound more natural.

What's a more common way to say "fearful with"?

More common alternatives include "afraid of", "scared of", or "apprehensive about", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "fearful with" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "fearful with" is less common than other similar phrases. Using alternatives such as "afraid of" or "scared of" will generally result in clearer and more widely accepted writing.