dreaded; dreading; dreads
1
a
: to fear greatly
can't swim and dreads the water
a dreaded disease
b
archaic
: to regard with awe
2
: to feel extreme reluctance to meet or face
dread the future
dreaded telling him the truth
dread the thought of speaking in public
: to be apprehensive or fearful
dread not
1
a
: great fear especially in the face of impending evil
were filled with dread by reports of another terrorist attack
b
: extreme uneasiness in the face of a disagreeable prospect (see prospect entry 1 sense 4c)
dread of a social blunder
c
archaic
: awe
2
: one causing fear or awe
the days of wooden ships and wooden homes, when fire was an omnipresent dread—
F. W. Saunders
F. W. Saunders3
a
: dreadlock sense 1
trimming each dread
b
1
: causing great fear or anxiety
dread diseases
2
: inspiring awe
our dread king
Examples of dread in a Sentence
Verb
He can't swim and dreads going in the water.
She dreaded making speeches in front of large audiences.
I dread the day I will have to leave my friends.
I dread the thought of moving next week.
I dread to think about what they might do next.
Noun
She has a dread of failure.
He lives with the constant dread of rejection.
She awaited her punishment with dread.
The news about the war fills me with dread.
They live in constant dread of another attack.
Adjective
every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate
Recent Examples on the Web
Sean Gregory, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Moving from six studio owners in 2022 to five, and now perhaps to four, is a trend the town is dreading.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
The pride of Odysseus, the passion of Shakespeare’s lovers, and the dread facing Ivan Ilyich on his deathbed remain inextinguishable qualities of our inner lives.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Matt Gandal, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Many wrestle with dread, spiritual disorientation and a shattered sense of safety in the world.
—Liza Barros-Lane, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
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Verb
Vonn dreaded calling her father.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Moving from six studio owners in 2022 to five, and now perhaps to four, is a trend the town is dreading.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
The story’s scope is considerably wider, and along with it comes the looming dread that the truth behind the mysterious shooting that opened the film in media res might be lurking around any corner.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
The pride of Odysseus, the passion of Shakespeare’s lovers, and the dread facing Ivan Ilyich on his deathbed remain inextinguishable qualities of our inner lives.
—Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
For too long, college admissions has been a high-stakes, high-stress process that many college hopefuls dread.
—Matt Gandal, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Many wrestle with dread, spiritual disorientation and a shattered sense of safety in the world.
—Liza Barros-Lane, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dread. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dread
1 of 3 verb1
: to fear greatly
2
: to be very unwilling to meet or face
dread
2 of 3 noun1
a
: great fear especially in the face of approaching harm
b
archaic
: awe entry 1
2
: one causing fear or awe
dread
3 of 3 adjective
: causing great fear or anxiety
a dread disease
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