turned fearful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turned fearful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has become afraid or anxious in a particular situation. Example: "As the storm approached, she turned fearful, glancing nervously at the darkening sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But one day, my experience almost turned fearful.

Huffington Post

The informants described how affected individuals turned fearful and withdrew from social life: D5: "It is difficult to advise somebody who is living with violence to move out.

BMC Women's Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The opening, reminiscent of the first section of the Second Symphony, is cold, stony, relentless, with three bass-drums whalloping the ears at regular intervals; and when the organ thunders the notes E-flat and G-flat, grating against the prevailing A-minor tonality, the mood turns fearful, as if judgment were being rendered from on high.

The New Yorker

But when investors turn fearful, the hot money is pulled from Turkey more quickly than from other places, forcing the lira down and domestic spending to cool.Near-zero interest rates in the rich world have exacerbated the problem of hot-money flows for those emerging markets, such as Turkey, with high interest rates.

The Economist

Benign ignorance of the youngest of the major religions turned to fearful ignorance after September 11th 2001.

The Economist

Three, all Syrians, turned back, fearful that their papers were not in order and that trouble would follow – a constant problem in a country where the welcome is wearing thin.

The Guardian - Sport

Just about everybody believes Mr. Hussein is somewhere within 100 miles of Baghdad, in a basement, cut off from his closest aides, his shoe-black hair turned white, fearful of an American knock on his door.

The New York Times

Of course they were afraid at first, but with constant care, attention and enrichment from a small group of dedicated staff members, they turned from fearful, aloof dogs into just dogs -- dogs that wagged their tails and wiggled in excitement upon seeing me.

Huffington Post

Does Amazon demand not just professionalism, but near-perfection; work its people excessively long hours; convene conference calls on holidays; rank and yank like the discredited tactics of Jack Welch; have a real basis for 40-somethings worrying they will be replaced by 30-somethings, who are in turn fearful they will be replaced by 20-somethings; and foster ulcer-inducing stress?

Forbes

There was not the heart-pounding excitement that Sunday's final round contained, when people were afraid to turn away, fearful they might miss a dramatic shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Employees who tried to use public buses were often turned away by fearful drivers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In creative writing, use "turned fearful" when highlighting a significant moment where fear takes over, influencing decisions or actions.

Common error

While "turned fearful" is acceptable, consider stronger, more descriptive alternatives like "became terrified" or "grew anxious" to add nuance, especially in academic or professional writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turned fearful" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a change in emotional state. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. It typically modifies a subject by expressing a transformation into a state of fear or anxiety, describing how someone or something's disposition shifts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "turned fearful" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that signifies a transition into a state of fear. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While categorized as "Uncommon" in frequency, it effectively conveys a shift in emotional state, often found in news and media contexts. For alternatives, consider options like "became frightened" or "grew anxious" to introduce nuance. When writing, avoid overusing "turned fearful" in formal settings; enhance your descriptive vocabulary by opting for stronger alternatives to maximize impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became frightened

Focuses on the resulting state of being scared, similar to "turned fearful" but emphasizes the emotion itself.

became scared

Directly expresses the emotion of being scared, interchangeable with "became frightened".

grew afraid

Highlights a gradual increase in fear, suggesting a process leading to a state of fear.

became anxious

Indicates a state of worry and unease, closely related to fear but emphasizes apprehension.

grew apprehensive

Similar to "became anxious" but implies a more formal or intellectual sense of foreboding.

turned apprehensive

Indicates a change to a state of worry, similar to "turned fearful" but focusing on apprehension.

became alarmed

Highlights a sudden sense of danger or threat, indicating a quick transition to fear.

grew timid

Highlights a loss of confidence and courage, resulting in a fearful demeanor.

turned timid

Describes a change to a state of timidity, shifting the focus to a lack of courage.

grew wary

Suggests caution and suspicion due to potential danger, a more subtle form of fear.

FAQs

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

You can use "turned fearful" to describe a change in emotional state. For instance, "The city "turned tense and fearful" after the bombings" or "As the storm approached, she "turned fearful"."

What are some alternatives to "turned fearful"?

Alternatives include "became afraid", "grew anxious", or "became frightened" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "turned fearful" grammatically correct?

Yes, "turned fearful" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-adjective structure to describe a change in emotional state.

What's the difference between "turned fearful" and "became afraid"?

While similar, "turned fearful" suggests a more distinct shift or transformation into a state of fear, whereas "became afraid" is a more general expression of entering a state of fear.