Fearful and dull, it turned up (5)
I believe the answer is:
timid
'fearful' is the definition.
('timid' is associated in meaning with 'fearful')
'dull it turned up' is the wordplay.
'dull' becomes 'dim' ('dim' can be a synonym of 'dull').
'turned up' is a reversal indicator.
'dim'+'it'='dimit'
'dimit' written backwards gives 'TIMID'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for timid that I've seen before include "Mouse" , "Shrinking" , "Easily scared" , "Inclined to avoid people" , "Gutless" .)