as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
a vet who was adept at easing the fearfulness of her animal patients
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearfulness
Noun
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That sparked fears that AI tools could eat into existing companies’ business models and customer bases.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026 -
But the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have also stoked fear that people who record or otherwise monitor federal immigration operations risk arrest.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The dueling anxieties have been brewing for months.—
Jeran Wittenstein,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Remember that meaning can vary widely from person to person—for example, a dog can mean safety and loyalty to one person or fear and anxiety to another.—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Other parents expressed disappointment or dread when babies appeared too dark.—
Dorothy Roberts,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Fearfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearfulness. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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