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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of fear
David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Israel steps up strikes on southern Lebanon Israel stepped up air strikes on southern Lebanon, raising fears that the year-long truce with Hezbollah could collapse.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
With the disease often misunderstood and widely feared, there was pushback against his early hopes of rekindling his career.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fear
Noun
Margolick argues that Caesar avoided topical satire out of fear.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Israel steps up strikes on southern Lebanon Israel stepped up air strikes on southern Lebanon, raising fears that the year-long truce with Hezbollah could collapse.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
But the number was less than initially feared, and the chaos expected by some travelers has yet to happen in the terminals.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
With the disease often misunderstood and widely feared, there was pushback against his early hopes of rekindling his career.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
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The attendees—thirty- and forty-somethings who are members of the bank’s Private Wealth Management (PWM) division, which boasts an average account size of over $75 million—gathered to hash out their anxiety and excitement.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Barton will have to wait another month to receive his sentence for the six guilty counts the jury returned on charges of sending a grossly offensive electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety to football broadcasters Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward, and TV and radio host Jeremy Vine.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile Syria remains scarred by years of conflict and nationals in Germany are looking on at the debate with mounting worry.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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Leaders at big carmakers spelled out their worries in the latest round of earnings calls, saying that finding a replacement for Nexperia at scale in the short term will be difficult.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously opposed the bill, citing concerns over potential retaliation against Israeli hostages held in Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Addressing environmental and material concerns While perovskite materials are relatively affordable, their use of rare elements and lead raises environmental concerns.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Foreboding and dread is consuming celebrities scheduled to dance on The Jennifer Hudson Show.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Nov. 2025
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As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Directed by Tiago Rosa-Rosso, the film stages a gently absurd domestic scenario that drifts between comedy and unease, unfoldig like a theatrical chamber piece where logic slips and all is up for questioning.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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The feature opens as Magda’s son returns from the front to this world without men, with his arrival stirring a growing unease among the group.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The shooting occurred outside a Safeway location near Golden Gate Park, sending bystanders into panic.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Even if climate change does not trigger a full-fledged economic panic, whole regions will be thinned out and impoverished.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The other lives in New Jersey and is accused of talking about a potential terror attack in Boston during a livestream.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Esmé, along with many patrons and staff, experienced the terror and chaos of the event firsthand.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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