Definition of TREPIDATION

Choose the Right Synonym for trepidation

fear, dread, fright, alarm, panic, terror, trepidation mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger. fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage. fear of the unknown dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety. faced the meeting with dread fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear. fright at being awakened suddenly alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger. view the situation with alarm panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity. the news caused widespread panic terror implies the most extreme degree of fear. immobilized with terror trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation. raised the subject with trepidation

Examples of trepidation in a Sentence

In the first minutes, hours, or even days of fieldwork most researchers feel trepidation about being an outsider, a stranger on the scene … — Marie D. Price, Geographical Review, January-April 2001 This was an ambitious project, and a number of us felt some trepidation about the possible results. — Brian Phillips, New Republic, 13 Dec. 1999 I came aboard the 319 with trepidation, to join the lives of utter strangers, a man untried by the circumstances they had known. — Henry G. Bugbee, Jr., "Naval History," in Authors at Sea, Robert Shenk, ed., 1997 He had some trepidation about agreeing to their proposal. shaking with trepidation, I stepped into the old abandoned house

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s been trepidation about utilities owning EV chargers, questions about whether such investments serve all ratepayers and whether charging is better left to markets. — David Roberts, Vox, "Trump might like dirty cars, but electric vehicles are coming anyway," 26 June 2018 Passengers on board the plane filmed and posted snapshots of the dilapidated engine to social media, broadcasting their trepidation for all the world to see. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "8 Emergency Landings That Rival the 'Miracle on the Hudson'," 15 Jan. 2019 Newsletter Sign-up In part, the bets reflect trepidation about the longevity of the economic expansion, which earlier this year became the second-longest in U.S. history. — Corrie Driebusch, WSJ, "Strong Earnings Haven’t Cured the Stock Market’s Blues," 28 Oct. 2018 At today’s hearing, representatives questioned what such a bill should look like, although many expressed trepidation in stepping in to regulate Google. — Colin Lecher, The Verge, "Republicans pushed Pichai about bias allegations, leaving China and other issues behind," 11 Dec. 2018 Michelle shares her trepidation about trading a law firm job for a lower-paying position at City Hall and, later, balancing her position as a hospital administrator with her husband’s political aspirations. — Elisabeth Egan, Glamour, "With Becoming, Michelle Obama Proves She's Just Like You, Me, and Everyone We Know," 13 Nov. 2018 Despite a little trepidation about being a lesbian couple in a conservative state, Ahern decided to join her. — Robin Abcarian, latimes.com, "Leavin' on that midnight train to Georgia ... because a Bay Area house is simply out of reach," 8 June 2018 Yet senior Trump administration officials and American commanders have been watching, with growing trepidation, as Kurdish troops and commanders divert from the fight against the Islamic State. — Eric Schmitt And Rod Nordland, New York Times, "Amid Turkish Assault, Kurdish Forces Are Drawn Away From U.S. Fight With ISIS," 28 Feb. 2018 For example, an employee who has just scored a promotion may have a fleeting sense of trepidation. — The Seattle Times, "Tips to take your writing to the next level," 30 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trepidation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.