Thesaurus

fear

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of fear

to experience concern or anxiety

her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her

Synonyms of fear

bother, fret, fuss, stew, stress, sweat, trouble, worry

Words Related to fear

long, pine, yearn

Phrases Synonymous with fear

give a hang (or care a hang), sweat blood

Near Antonyms of fear

abide, bear, endure, stick out, stomach, sustain, take, tolerate

fear

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of fear

1 the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger

the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear

Synonyms of fear

alarm (also alarum), anxiety, dread, fearfulness, fright, horror, panic, scare, terror, trepidation

Words Related to fear

creeps, jitters, nervousness, willies

pang, qualm, twinge

agitation, apprehension, consternation, discomposure, disquiet, funk, perturbation

concern, dismay, worry

cowardice, faintheartedness, timidity, timorousness

Near Antonyms of fear

aplomb, assurance, boldness, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence

bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, fortitude, gallantry, hardihood, intrepidity, intrepidness, stoutness, valor

audacity, guts, nerve

2 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 of fear

agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry

Words Related to fear

strain, stress, tension

alarm (also alarum), anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, hand-wringing, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor

angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation

cold feet, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty

compunction, qualm, scruple

Near Antonyms of fear

calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

comfort, consolation, relief, solace

Antonyms of fear

Synonym Discussion of fear

fear, dread, fright, alarm, panic, terror, trepidation mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger. fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

- fear of the unknown

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

fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

- fright at being awakened suddenly

alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

- view the situation with alarm

panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

- the news caused widespread panic

terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

- immobilized with terror

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

- raised the subject with trepidation

Learn More about fear

Dictionary: Definition of fear Medical Dictionary: Definition of fear Spanish Central: Translation of fear Nglish: Translation of fear for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fear for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fear

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a strong desire or propensity