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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fear
Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
The fear at the time was that the United States had become the borrower of last resort for the world’s excess saving, running current-account deficits on a scale that could not continue indefinitely, and that when the imbalance unwound, the adjustment might be abrupt and ugly.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Clearly, McDonald’s can thrive when its customer base feels a little strapped for cash, but the company is right to fear what happens when that consumer stress goes too far.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fear
Noun
Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks have been increasingly reaching further into Russian territory, sparking fears that Ukraine could strike within Moscow on the day of the parade.
—Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
The fear at the time was that the United States had become the borrower of last resort for the world’s excess saving, running current-account deficits on a scale that could not continue indefinitely, and that when the imbalance unwound, the adjustment might be abrupt and ugly.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Verb
Hamas fears that Palestine will be susceptible to future incursions by the Israeli military if the territories do not have the capacity to defend themselves.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Clearly, McDonald’s can thrive when its customer base feels a little strapped for cash, but the company is right to fear what happens when that consumer stress goes too far.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
-
But the following year, as the pandemic wore on and crime rates ticked up, the politics of criminal justice in the city shifted toward law-and-order anxiety, even as new waves of COVID infection struck the jails.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
War rumbles on Putin, who has ruled Russia as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, faces a wave of anxiety in Moscow about the war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, left swathes of Ukraine in ruins, and drained Russia’s $3 trillion economy.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
At the macro scale of society, loss of control seems like a legitimate reason for worry.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Their worry is that investors are treating this economic moment — physical supply disruptions, geopolitical fracturing, tariff whiplash — like the liquidity crises of the past, which were solvable with government cash.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
While there have been no reports of illness, authorities urge people to contact a health care provider for any concerns.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
-
Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the HHS, which oversees the FDA, said the studies were pulled over concerns about their conclusions.—
Padmanabhan Ananthan,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Across the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre, and Los Feliz 3, more than 45 films will explore the universal themes of human suffering and existential dread in the latest edition of the event in its flagship city.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
-
Fear and dread stalked employees working at the CSCU central office.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Meloni, weakened by a recent referendum defeat and facing public unease over the conflict, has insisted that any use of Italian bases for offensive operations would require parliamentary backing.—
Giada Zampano,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Brent was trading above $100 a barrel on Friday, while shipping and insurance markets continue signaling deep unease despite periodic ceasefire headlines.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Lord Cornwallis encountered these imperial priorities in 1778, when he was briefly ordered to leave America along with four thousand troops during a panic that the French might invade Jamaica.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Eduardo Rodrigues Cavalcante, a receptionist at a hotel adjacent to the school, described scenes of terror, as some students tried to jump over a wall separating the school from the hotel.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
Kellison plays Bennett, a high-energy terror.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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