as in terrors
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
speaking in public is a perennial dread for many people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 dreads
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Mirror images except for the fact that Jelani has his hair in dreads, while Ari goes with the more retro-look afro.
—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
But the have-funs and the have-existential-dreads of the hockey community are every bit as clear.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
The courtroom doors cracked open, and a Black woman with long dreads walked in.
—
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Also, there is this human white boy with dreads, Spider, a Tarzan type who hangs around the Sullys with the help of an oxygen mask.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2025
Other introspective angles are explored during Mariano’s audiences with his friend the Pope (Rufin Doh Zeyenouin), a serene Black man with a head crowned by a bundle of silver dreads, who tools around the Vatican on a motorbike.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
He's described by officials as a Black male in his late teens with a medium-large build and thick dreads.
—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Mirror images except for the fact that Jelani has his hair in dreads, while Ari goes with the more retro-look afro.
—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
But the have-funs and the have-existential-dreads of the hockey community are every bit as clear.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
The courtroom doors cracked open, and a Black woman with long dreads walked in.
—
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Also, there is this human white boy with dreads, Spider, a Tarzan type who hangs around the Sullys with the help of an oxygen mask.
—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2025
Other introspective angles are explored during Mariano’s audiences with his friend the Pope (Rufin Doh Zeyenouin), a serene Black man with a head crowned by a bundle of silver dreads, who tools around the Vatican on a motorbike.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreads
Noun
-
The year since has been one of night-terrors and grief for the families who lost loved ones.
-
Coming later this year, Bass X Macina is set in a lawless Steampunk West overrun by brutal outlaws, machines and supernatural terrors, while Sparks of Tomorrow follows how technological progress evolved along a different path shaped by steam power blankets Kyoto in smoke.
Verb
-
Several high-profile billionaires have relocated to lower-tax states such as Texas and Florida, fueling opponents’ fears that the state’s tax base could erode further.
-
Elizabeth no longer fears being a dropout, and thinks about becoming a policewoman — a dream inspired by her uncle’s smart uniform.
Noun
-
Thank you for a plethora of news on June 17 that didn’t crush our spirits.
-
As one of the world’s largest spirits conglomerates, the company certainly had access to some choice, well-aged stocks.
Noun
-
Previously, older strains appeared to lack the genetic traits that enabled them to spread, leading scientists to think that early plagues were unlikely to trigger outbreaks.
-
But there's evidence that earlier plagues were just as deadly.
Noun
-
Their greatest gifts are their biggest curses.
-
Mostly, the show is an eccentric yet seamless mix of black humor and horror, with Wyck trying to convince Loftis that the island’s curses are real.
Noun
-
So too did Trump spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain, who compared the president’s torments to those of Jesus.
-
In the face of such grave concerns, Alyoshka’s torments seem self-indulgent and frustrating, but his problem—whether to leave or stay—is far from insignificant.
Cite this Entry
“Dreads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreads. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
