temido

Temido is a Spanish adjective meaning “feared” or “dreaded.” It describes something or someone that inspires fear or is avoided because of the risk or danger it represents. As the past participle of the verb temer (to fear), temido also functions as a stative descriptor: a person, group, place, or thing can be described as temido.

Etymology and form: Temido derives from temer, which comes from the Latin timēre, “to fear.” The participle is temido, with the feminine temida and the plural temidos, temidas, allowing agreement with gender and number. In use, it often appears before a noun as a compound descriptor or after ser/estar in predicate position.

Usage and nuance: Temido frequently conveys external perception—someone or something is feared by others. It can emphasize influence or power derived from fear, as in “un líder temido” (a feared leader) or “una ciudad temida por los turistas” (a city feared by tourists). It is common in historical, literary, or journalistic contexts to describe reputations for danger or aggression. A related term, temible, emphasizes the inherent fearfulness or menace of something rather than the perception by others.

Comparison with related terms: Temor refers to fear itself, not the object that causes it. Temeroso describes a person who feels fear or is timid, while temido attributes a quality of being feared by others. Synonyms include aterrador and estremecedor in certain contexts; antonyms include seguro, valiente, or inofensivo, depending on context.

See also: temor, temible, temible persona, miedo.