1
as in anxiety
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worry
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
fear for her family's safety drove her to seek help from neighbors she hardly knew
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety
her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fear
Kristen Altmeyer, Parents, 22 Sep. 2025
When speaking about the great fears stemming from technologies such as AI, Martínez warned that the industry should be careful of how technology developed and championed by other countries can contribute to cultural homogeneization.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Hackers might have hesitated in the past to intentionally disrupt the systems that underpin American society, fearing retaliation or escalation.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fear
Noun
On Monday morning, with his fears eased and the knowledge that fun doesn’t stop once summer ends, my kindergartener gave me a quick hug goodbye and walked confidently into school.
—Kristen Altmeyer, Parents, 22 Sep. 2025
When speaking about the great fears stemming from technologies such as AI, Martínez warned that the industry should be careful of how technology developed and championed by other countries can contribute to cultural homogeneization.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Many fear a similar pipeline mishap on the Straits bottom, where Great Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, would be greatly more devastating.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Hackers might have hesitated in the past to intentionally disrupt the systems that underpin American society, fearing retaliation or escalation.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
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The system, with its high-voltage generator, addresses the range anxiety of electric vehicles.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Sep. 2025
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Over six days, joy and anxiety collide as the family hides in plain sight in what can be described as a biographical piece of filmmaking for Lafosse.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For Washington, there was a worry that the team was becoming too reliant on Daniels.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
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The worries of the group also extended beyond their business operations.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Emily Warren, a state deputy transportation secretary, emailed the Tesla public-policy staffer and top officials at two other state agencies overseeing autonomous vehicles, citing concern over public misconceptions about Tesla’s Bay Area plans.—
Chris Kirkham,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Trying to overcome those concerns, Newsom and liberal influencers held a three hour long telethon, doubling down on their messaging.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In this case, there’s that feeling of dread.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Yeah, there’s just a dread, isn’t there?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Gold does, after all, usually act as a safe haven in periods of economic unease.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
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Still, there’s reason for unease when critics of Israel use the Holocaust as a rhetorical weapon against the Jewish state.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Widespread panic and pain People who were not directly exposed to the disaster but who were exposed to the news also experience distress, anxiety or symptoms of PTSD.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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Naturally the thought of death came into one’s mind occasionally but one tried to be sensible about it, not getting into a panic, not pushing it away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Swift canceled three shows in Vienna, Austria, while on the European leg of the Eras Tour in August 2024 after authorities discovered a planned terror attack targeting her concerts.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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Maduro is the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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