as in worried
to experience concern or anxiety
her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her
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Recent Examples of feared
However, naming the Holocaust as a genocide in 2026, the organizers of the lecture about our book feared, would evoke contemporary associations—above all, with the genocide in Gaza.
—
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
The rebellion on the vote to repeal the Canada tariffs was not nearly as big as Republican leaders and the White House feared, or that tariff-skeptical Republicans expected.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Some feared that a foreign attack would give the regime more pretext to direct violence toward its own civilians, and to execute prisoners en masse.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Their goal with the video was to push back against the president’s domestic troop deployments, a trend his critics feared might lead to clashes with ordinary Americans or be used to interfere in upcoming elections.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feared
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
The rebellion on the vote to repeal the Canada tariffs was not nearly as big as Republican leaders and the White House feared, or that tariff-skeptical Republicans expected.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
Some feared that a foreign attack would give the regime more pretext to direct violence toward its own civilians, and to execute prisoners en masse.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Their goal with the video was to push back against the president’s domestic troop deployments, a trend his critics feared might lead to clashes with ordinary Americans or be used to interfere in upcoming elections.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feared
Recent Examples of Synonyms for feared
worried
Verb
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That student is in the district’s medical assisting program, and has been emailing teachers worried about making up work and getting finals done.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some who follow the Make America Healthy Again movement praised his decision, but former health officials and some medical experts worried the firings would sow distrust in the public health system and in vaccines that have been found to be safe and effective.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Feared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/feared. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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