genuinely afraid

USAGE SUMMARY

"genuinely afraid" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a sincere or deep feeling of fear. Example: She was genuinely afraid of the dark. Alternative expressions include "truly scared" and "really frightened."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

He was genuinely afraid.

The New Yorker

"I was genuinely afraid of being violently attacked," she said.

The New York Times

"I'm genuinely afraid, I'm afraid and I don't want to be, in my neighborhood.

The New York Times

Herb thought he was a schmuck, but Herb was genuinely afraid of him.

The New Yorker

I am genuinely afraid now my protective mechanism is exploring its own conclusion.

The Guardian - Tech

In the wake of attacks like 7/7 we are genuinely afraid, and believe them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

It also provides Democrats with evidence that they don't need to be afraid of genuinely progressive economic rhetoric.

Vice

Maybe the producers are afraid that anything genuinely funny would be in bad taste and have decided to stick with arched eyebrows and easy irony.

The New York Times - Arts

If you are genuinely lost, do not be afraid to ask for directions.

WikiHow

It is the genuinely unexpected that keeps us listening, afraid we might miss something.

The Guardian - Books

Rather, they seem to play what they genuinely like, and they aren't afraid to dig beyond the hits of the moment.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase works effectively in narrative writing to humanize a character by admitting to a vulnerable, authentic emotion

Common error

Do not pair "genuinely afraid" with other adverbs like "very" or "extremely". The word "genuinely" already functions as a strong intensifier and qualifier; adding more makes the prose feel cluttered and weakens the impact of the word "genuinely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "genuinely afraid" functions as an adjective phrase where the adverb "genuinely" modifies the adjective "afraid". According to Ludwig AI, this construction is used to provide emotional emphasis, ensuring the reader understands that the fear is sincere and not just a figure of speech.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki & General Knowledge

10%

Academic & Scientific

5%

Less common in

Legal Documents

2%

Technical Manuals

1%

Business Reports

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "genuinely afraid" is a powerful tool for writers looking to convey sincere emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically correct and widely accepted expression, particularly within high-quality journalism. The adverb "genuinely" serves to strip away any doubt about the subject's feelings, making it far more impactful than a simple "scared" or "afraid". Whether used in the context of political reporting, personal memoirs or social commentary, it emphasizes the human element of fear. When writing, consider alternatives like "truly scared" for a more casual tone, but stick with "genuinely afraid" for a balanced, professional and evocative description of genuine distress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

truly scared

More informal and common in spoken English

really frightened

Slightly more descriptive of a sudden or sharp state of fear

deeply afraid

Suggests a more profound or long-standing fear

sincerely fearful

Adds a formal tone often used in professional or academic writing

actually terrified

Increases the intensity of the fear significantly

honestly apprehensive

Refers to a milder, more nervous feeling of dread

legitimately spooked

A colloquial alternative suggesting a sudden, unexpected fright

genuinely concerned

A softer alternative focusing on worry rather than raw fear

deadly afraid

An idiomatic intensification suggesting extreme, paralyzing fear

quite scared

A British-inflected alternative that can imply moderate to high fear

FAQs

How to use "genuinely afraid" in a sentence?

You can use "genuinely afraid" to describe a sincere feeling of fear, such as in the sentence: "She was "genuinely afraid" of the long-term consequences of the decision."

What can I say instead of "genuinely afraid"?

You can use synonyms like "truly scared", "really frightened" or "deeply afraid" depending on the level of intensity you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "genuinely afraid" or "truly afraid"?

Both are grammatically correct and essentially interchangeable. While "genuinely afraid" is slightly more common in journalism, "truly afraid" is often found in literary or personal contexts.

What is the difference between "genuinely afraid" and "really scared"?

"genuinely afraid" sounds more formal and emphasizes the authenticity of the emotion, whereas "really scared" is more common in everyday spoken English.