dread

³dread

adj

Definition of DREAD

1

: causing great fear or anxiety

2

: inspiring awe

Examples of DREAD

1. <every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate>

First Known Use of DREAD

15th century

Related to DREAD

Synonyms: alarming, dire, direful, fearful, dreadful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying

Related Words: daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms: calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening

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