definition of
fearful

[1] #1 fearful s. experiencing or showing fear; "a fearful glance"; "fearful of criticism". wn

[2] #2 fearful s. [awful, dire, direful, dread, dreaded, dreadful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terrible] causing fear or dread or terror; "the awful war"; "an awful risk"; "dire news"; "a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked"; "the dread presence of the headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was"; "a dreadful storm"; ". wn

[3] #3 fearful a. [cowardly] lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted; "cowardly dogs, ye will not aid me then"- P.B.Shelley. wn

[4] #4 fearful s. [frightful] extremely distressing; "fearful slum conditions"; "a frightful mistake". wn

[5] #5 fearful s. [timorous, trepid] timid by nature or revealing timidity; "timorous little mouse"; "in a timorous tone"; "cast fearful glances at the large dog". wn