grows fearful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grows fearful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is becoming increasingly afraid or anxious over time. Example: "As the storm approached, the child grows fearful, clutching her mother's hand tightly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

With a madcap populism, Liu is prone to disquisitions so extensive that a listener grows fearful of their destination.

The New York Times - Magazine

With every atrocity they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends.

The New York Times

Unaware of Simpson's accusation of his wife and his wife's friend Ron, he grows fearful after Joe convinces him to walk around town with the song Dust in the Wind while thinking about the murders.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He had seen his mother grow fearful and bitter.

The New Yorker

Then Roy was killed, and Kowshik grew fearful again.

The New Yorker

Still, as the American people grew fearful of lard, American pigs grew noticeably leaner.

The New York Times - Food

With its weak government and slow growth, investors have grown fearful that Portugal, too, will eventually run out of funds.

The New York Times

In the old days, bank runs would start when people grew fearful that a bank was insolvent.

The New York Times

Mohamed Abazid, 28, a refugee from Dara'a in southern Syria, grew fearful as he saw fliers being passed around.

The New York Times

Republicans grew fearful of criticism of the racially charged tactics that began with Richard M. Nixon's "Southern strategy".

The New York Times

With its housing market blighted and its consumers growing fearful, America now faces a mounting risk of recession.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grows fearful" to describe a gradual increase in fear, often due to an ongoing or anticipated situation. It emphasizes the process of becoming afraid rather than a sudden onset of fear.

Common error

Avoid using "grows fearful" when describing a sudden, immediate fright. Opt for phrases like "became scared" or "was terrified" instead, which better convey the instantaneous nature of the emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grows fearful" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a process of becoming increasingly afraid. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable. Examples show it describing people or entities experiencing a gradual onset of fear.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grows fearful" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a gradual increase in fear or apprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Although relatively rare, its usage is appropriate for conveying the process of becoming afraid over time, as demonstrated in various news and media contexts. While alternatives like "becomes afraid" or "starts to fear" exist, "grows fearful" subtly emphasizes the progressive nature of the emotion. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with situations where fear develops gradually, rather than arising suddenly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becomes afraid

Replaces "grows" with "becomes", indicating a change into a state of fear.

starts to fear

Uses "starts to" to emphasize the beginning of the feeling of fear.

begins to grow afraid

Adds "begins to" to highlight the gradual onset of fear.

becomes apprehensive

Replaces "fearful" with "apprehensive", suggesting a more formal tone and anticipation of future problems.

grows anxious

Substitutes "fearful" with "anxious", focusing on worry and unease.

becomes scared

Uses "scared" instead of "fearful" indicating a more informal tone.

starts feeling afraid

Emphasizes the sensation of fear with "starts feeling".

develops a fear of

Focuses on developing a specific fear of something.

becomes intimidated

Shifts the focus to feeling threatened or daunted.

loses courage

Implies fear leading to a reduction in bravery or confidence.

FAQs

What does "grows fearful" mean?

The phrase "grows fearful" describes a gradual increase in fear or apprehension over time. It suggests a process of becoming more afraid as circumstances change or as one anticipates a negative outcome.

What can I say instead of "grows fearful"?

You can use alternatives like "becomes afraid", "starts to fear", or "becomes anxious" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "grows fearful" formal or informal?

"Grows fearful" is neither overly formal nor informal; it holds a neutral tone suitable for both news reports and general prose. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary. You could also say something like "becomes intimidated" or "becomes scared" depending on the context.

How do I use "grows fearful" in a sentence?

Use "grows fearful" to indicate a gradual increase in fear over time due to specific circumstances. For instance, "As the deadline approached, he "grows fearful" of failure."