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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fear
Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Getty Images News | Getty Images Crude oil futures jumped more than 3% Sunday after Israel struck two natural gas facilities in Iran, raising fears that the war will expand to energy infrastructure and disrupt supplies in the region.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 15 June 2025
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
Twenty-three crewmen suffered radiation poisoning, and one died that year; many in the country were reluctant to buy seafood, fearing contamination.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fear
Noun
As the threat of more strikes continues to fuel fears in Israel, the residents of Tamra are left feeling anxious.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
Getty Images News | Getty Images Crude oil futures jumped more than 3% Sunday after Israel struck two natural gas facilities in Iran, raising fears that the war will expand to energy infrastructure and disrupt supplies in the region.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 15 June 2025
Verb
In other parts of Greater Los Angeles, undocumented immigrants — and even those who are here legally but fear racial profiling — are exercising extra caution navigating their daily lives.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
Twenty-three crewmen suffered radiation poisoning, and one died that year; many in the country were reluctant to buy seafood, fearing contamination.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
-
When an industry accelerates this fast, anxiety is sure to follow and a growing number of CEOs aren’t asking whether to build with AI.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Survey respondents’ anxiety over unemployment also declined, but a separate measure of employment trends from the Conference Board dipped slightly, reflecting lingering economic uncertainty.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Those worries vanished when she was accepted to Yale University.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Fear of falling behind That worry of falling behind is something many men are wrestling with, according to a recent report by the Speaking with American Men (SAM) project, a new effort aimed at helping Democrats better reach and connect with young men.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
13 June 2025
Noun
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While the full dataset has not been published, the leak already raises concerns over regulatory compliance and consumer protection, especially given the sensitive nature of the firm’s work.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
-
On both the commercial, as well as the military side, the ability to deliver against order books was a paramount concern due to the ongoing ramp in commercial deliveries, and the shortfalls in munitions and missiles from wars in Ukraine and the mid-East.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
Kids might be excited about the end of the school year and for summer to begin, but many working parents who don’t know how to fill their kids’ long summer days may be feeling some dread right about now.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
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Looming over his studies and extracurriculars is a singular dread.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, European defense and infrastructure spending is expected to support growth amid growing unease over the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
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The series draws its fear and unease from a chilling idea: the sense that dangerous people often hide in plain sight.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
He’s been with the UK dating show ever since the beginning, and when word spread that Iain Stirling was leaving Love Island UK, many fans went into panic.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
9 June 2025
-
Not knowing the new rules, there always is definitely a total panic and paranoia all the time.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Noun
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By the time Jaws’s 45th anniversaries rolled around, society was locked down in the Covid pandemic’s first year, terror gripping communities worldwide.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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Izadi had been sanctioned by the U.S. and U.K. over his ties to the Palestinian militant faction Islamic Jihad, which also helped plan the Oct. 7 terror attacks.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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