Thesaurus results for DREAD

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

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

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dread

2 of 3

noun

as in worry

suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune the dread felt by people awaiting bad news

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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

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as in terror

something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason speaking in public is a perennial dread for many people

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dread

3 of 3

verb

as in to fear

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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.