DREAD Synonyms: 219 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'dread' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of dread are alarm , fear , fright , panic , terror , and trepidation . While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," 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

Q: When is 'alarm' a more appropriate choice than 'dread'?

In some situations, the words alarm and dread are roughly equivalent. However, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger. // view the situation with alarm

Q: When could 'fear' be used to replace 'dread'?

The meanings of fear and dread largely overlap; however, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage. // fear of the unknown

Q: In what contexts can 'fright' take the place of 'dread'?

Although the words fright and dread have much in common, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear. // fright at being awakened suddenly

Q: Where would 'panic' be a reasonable alternative to 'dread'?

The synonyms panic and dread are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity. // the news caused widespread panic

Q: When might 'terror' be a better fit than 'dread'?

While in some cases nearly identical to dread , terror implies the most extreme degree of fear. // immobilized with terror

Q: How do 'trepidation' and 'dread' relate to one another?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation. // raised the subject with trepidation

Q: How is the word 'dread' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of dread are alarm , fear , fright , panic , terror , and trepidation . While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," 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

Q: When is 'alarm' a more appropriate choice than 'dread'?

In some situations, the words alarm and dread are roughly equivalent. However, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger. // view the situation with alarm

Q: When could 'fear' be used to replace 'dread'?

The meanings of fear and dread largely overlap; however, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage. // fear of the unknown

dread 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of dread next

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

dread

2 of 3

noun

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

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

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

dread

3 of 3

verb

as in to fear

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dread distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of dread are alarm, fear, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," 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

When is alarm a more appropriate choice than dread?

In some situations, the words alarm and dread are roughly equivalent. However, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When could fear be used to replace dread?

The meanings of fear and dread largely overlap; however, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

In what contexts can fright take the place of dread?

Although the words fright and dread have much in common, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to dread?

The synonyms panic and dread are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When might terror be a better fit than dread?

While in some cases nearly identical to dread, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another?

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

raised the subject with trepidation

How is the word dread distinct from other similar nouns?

faced the meeting with dread

When is alarm a more appropriate choice than dread?

In some situations, the words alarm and dread are roughly equivalent. However, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When could fear be used to replace dread?

The meanings of fear and dread largely overlap; however, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

In what contexts can fright take the place of dread?

Although the words fright and dread have much in common, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to dread?

The synonyms panic and dread are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When might terror be a better fit than dread?

While in some cases nearly identical to dread, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another?

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

raised the subject with trepidation

How is the word dread distinct from other similar nouns?

faced the meeting with dread

When is alarm a more appropriate choice than dread?

In some situations, the words alarm and dread are roughly equivalent. However, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When could fear be used to replace dread?

The meanings of fear and dread largely overlap; however, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

In what contexts can fright take the place of dread?

Although the words fright and dread have much in common, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to dread?

The synonyms panic and dread are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When might terror be a better fit than dread?

While in some cases nearly identical to dread, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another?

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 dread

Adjective

Dealing with feelings of overwhelm or dread when your kids want to play shouldn’t be a source of shame. —

Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 12 Jan. 2026 Special mention to lighting designer Anna Watson, who conjures dread from the darkness and casts a shadow at the top of the second act that confirms Lou isn’t crazy. —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 19 Nov. 2025

Noun

Trudging basses and harp frame the atmosphere of a scene full of dread. —

Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026 Outside those emotional swells, the family was relieved to be together, and free of the dread that had hung over them in New York. —

Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026

Verb

Dealing with feelings of overwhelm or dread when your kids want to play shouldn’t be a source of shame. —

Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 12 Jan. 2026 No need to keep track of your Allen keys or dread a move. —

Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dread

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread

Adjective

Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground Friday.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground.

— Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Browse Nearby Words

drays

dread

dreaded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 14 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of dread

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on dread

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tranche

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Mar. 13

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Popular

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Mar. 13

Games & Quizzes