as in terrifying
causing fear
every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in worry
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
the dread felt by people awaiting bad news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
we were filled with dread when we saw the rapids we would be rafting down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terror
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
speaking in public is a perennial dread for many people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dread
Laney Crawley, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
While Ahmed, in the past, dreads regaining his memory, the disciple, in the present, fears that his master’s decline will unleash an ancient evil.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2025
Liza Barros-Lane, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
Inside the country, optimism and dread wrestle for the soul of a people.
—Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 21 July 2025
Together with folklore professor Yeom Hae-sang (Oh Jung-se), San-yeong comes to understand both her own grief and the trauma death leaves behind as Revenant embraces the quiet, brooding dread that makes Korean horror genuinely unnerving.
—Geoffrey Bunting, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Adjective
Already dreading the back to school lunch box grind?
—Laney Crawley, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
While Ahmed, in the past, dreads regaining his memory, the disciple, in the present, fears that his master’s decline will unleash an ancient evil.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2025
Noun
Many wrestle with dread, spiritual disorientation and a shattered sense of safety in the world.
—Liza Barros-Lane, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
Inside the country, optimism and dread wrestle for the soul of a people.
—Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
Verb
Vance's and Rubio's Senate successors avoid GOP primary drama
As JD Vance and Marco Rubio shot to the top of Donald Trump’s list of possible running mates last year, a hint of dread set in for Republicans in Ohio and Florida.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 21 July 2025
Together with folklore professor Yeom Hae-sang (Oh Jung-se), San-yeong comes to understand both her own grief and the trauma death leaves behind as Revenant embraces the quiet, brooding dread that makes Korean horror genuinely unnerving.
—Geoffrey Bunting, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
-
The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Rather than playing with the achromatic aesthetic of the terrifying teenager, Ortega and Inglessis focused on nude, earth tones.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
His worry is that a robust response could be lacking since both the U.S. and a number of European countries have cut so much of their humanitarian aid.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The New York Yankees have maintained an optimistic tone, despite some real reason for worry.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The study is not meant to fuel fears but to provide a clear argument for planetary defense by putting the risks of asteroid impacts into context.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
-
And yet, our fears or feelings that things will spiral out of control again?—
Kenny Malone,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Far to the north, in the Montes de Maria region where Nawar Jimenez grew up, the terror instilled by armed groups is also deep-rooted.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Virginia Woolf’s wild run of creativity in her 40s included writing her masterpiece on the terrors and triumphs of middle age.—
Hillary Kelly,
The Atlantic,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Amy Madigan’s striking performance is both funny and frightening, her witch an ancient, otherworldly being that only really understands power.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Chad Michael Murray's journey to acting began with a frightening trip to the hospital.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Ultimately, these discussions about college don’t have to include arguments or high anxiety.—
Robert Cole,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
By Linda Wells Skin in the Game Leather Bound Tanning is back, and Gen Z is ignoring the risks, turning to sunbathing and tanning beds to soothe anxiety and feel in control By Erin Flaherty Read On Dietary Restrictions?—
Jeanne Malle,
Air Mail,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The plague of injuries hadn’t lifted either, last year’s No. 2 pick Cameron Brink was still recovering from a torn ACL and speedy spark plug Rae Burrell was injured just seconds into the season.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
8 Aug. 2025
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Those individuals, then, via cough or direct contact, can spread plague person-to-person, and that’s called primary pneumonic plague.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
He’s really walked that tightrope of being scary but still keeping it fun.—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Unfortunately, the latter aspects suggested to a lot of potential viewers that Fantastic Four is a more dramatic and adult-skewing movie, where dangers and child-threat elements might be too scary or off-putting to the youngest kids and their parents.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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