Fearful means feeling afraid or full of fear. When you're fearful about an upcoming presentation, your stomach might feel tight and your hands might get sweaty. A fearful person in a dark basement might jump at every small sound, imagining dangers that aren't really there.

The word can describe a temporary feeling or someone's general outlook. You might feel fearful before your first time riding a roller coaster, but once you get through it, that fear disappears. But if someone has a fearful nature, they tend to expect bad things to happen and worry about dangers constantly, like a dog that cowers at every loud noise.

Fearful also means causing fear or inspiring dread. A fearful storm might produce tornadoes and flooding. When someone describes a fearful accident, they mean it was terrible and frightening to witness or even think about.

Being fearful isn't the same as being cautious or careful. Caution means thinking through real risks and making smart choices.