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be fearful

[bi ˈfɪrfəl]
verb phrase
ter medo, estar assustado
1. to feel fear or anxiety about something; to be afraid
She was fearful of flying after the turbulent flight.
Ela tinha medo de voar depois do voo turbulento.
2. to be characterized by or showing fear
The child was fearful and clung to his mother.
A criança estava assustada e se agarrava à mãe.
3. to be worried or concerned about a potential negative outcome
They were fearful that the project would fail.
Eles temiam que o projeto falhasse.
Synonyms
be afraidbe scaredbe anxiousbe worriedbe apprehensive
Antonyms
be bravebe courageousbe fearlessbe confident

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ter medo, estar com medo, estar assustado
Most common in everyday speech
Portugal
ter medo, estar assustado, estar receoso
Receoso is more formal/literary in European Portuguese
São Paulo
ter medo, estar com medo
Regional preference for estar com medo

Related Idioms & Phrases

be fearful for someone's safety
be fearful of the unknown
be fearful that something might happen
tremer de medo (tremble with fear in Portuguese)
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