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fear

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verb

as in to worry
to experience concern or anxiety her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fear distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fear are alarm, dread, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words 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

When might alarm be a better fit than fear?

The words alarm and fear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

In what contexts can dread take the place of fear?

The synonyms dread and fear are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Where would fright be a reasonable alternative to fear?

While the synonyms fright and fear are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

When can panic be used instead of fear?

The words panic and fear can be used in similar contexts, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When is terror a more appropriate choice than fear?

In some situations, the words terror and fear are roughly equivalent. However, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How are the words trepidation and dread related as synonyms of fear?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fear
Noun
The phenomenon has raised fears of job loss in software careers, fueled by comments from tech CEOs who say AI is speeding up software development and making their teams more efficient. Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025 As if Minos inspired such hatred, such fear and disgust, that the feelings themselves boiled up from Daedalus’s heart and gushed out through the tap to cook the wicked king alive. Seamus Sullivan september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
States have been reluctant to turn over those lists, which can contain personal information that election officials fear can be used improperly. David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025 Show more At the same time, her daughter feared Robleto was in danger. Nbc News, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
  • But for Apryl Shackelford, those anxieties have been replaced with opportunity.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Even your own anxiety may play a part.
    George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • What is the worry for governments and what is the worry for ordinary civilians?
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Fresh data revealed jobless claims far under expectations — suggesting layoffs remain limited and the labor market is holding firm despite Fed worries.
    Benzinga, Freep.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Powell said a sharp cooldown of hiring over the summer had shifted the balance of risks toward greater concern over the labor market rather than inflation.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Made in Africa is a monthly column by Rolling Stone staff writer Mankaprr Conteh that celebrates and interrogates the lives, concerns, and innovations of cultural workers of the African diaspora from their vantage point.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Nonetheless, Lloyd's production is handsomely realized, with striking silhouetttes courtesy of Jon Clark and unnerving sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, who add a low whirr of dread to the existential fable.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Jon Clark’s no-place-to-hide lighting unnervingly brightens Beckett’s shadowy world but without losing its sense of dread, allowing both light and dark at the end of this infinite tunnel.
    Frank Rizzo, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Though when that context is Newcastle’s longer-term top-flight form, then a general feeling of unease is becoming justified.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Despite a growing sense of unease, museum leaders across the country have largely remained silent.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There was still no panic when, in March 2023, CRH — the world’s biggest building materials supplier — chose to switch to New York.
    Ian King, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • But the real success lies in making hydration a daily habit, not a panic-buying response.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Antifa is now a 'domestic terror group' Trump declared Antifa a domestic terror organization in a new White House Executive Order signed Monday evening.
    Richard Hall, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
  • He was charged with having a weapon at a public assembly or rally and going armed to the terror of people, both misdemeanors.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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