as in worrying
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 fearing
From junior staffers worried about automation to managers fearing irrelevance, no one feels entirely safe.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
None of the companies wanted to be identified directly, fearing that an admission of financial problems could hurt their business going forward.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
European nations are seeking to rapidly rearm, and see Russia's defeat in Ukraine as a necessity for the broader security of the continent, fearing Moscow has similar ambitions elsewhere in the former Soviet sphere.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Be Brave in a Contrarian Moment Skeptics are seeing political headwinds and fearing weak returns left and right.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Local interest in Madrid is so strong that Kairat decided not to allow fans to attend this afternoon’s UEFA Youth League under-19 game between the two clubs, fearing that an overwhelming number of supporters turning up could cause a distraction.
—Tomás Hill López-Menchero, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
The couple first emigrated to Ecuador, then to Colombia, but left fearing growing prejudice against Venezuelans.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Lourdes Martinez, co-director of Centro Legal de la Raza’s immigrant rights program in Oakland, recommended migrants fearing deportation in the East Bay contact her agency before visiting courthouses, to develop a plan in case ICE is waiting for them.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Hackers might have hesitated in the past to intentionally disrupt the systems that underpin American society, fearing retaliation or escalation.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
None of the companies wanted to be identified directly, fearing that an admission of financial problems could hurt their business going forward.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
European nations are seeking to rapidly rearm, and see Russia's defeat in Ukraine as a necessity for the broader security of the continent, fearing Moscow has similar ambitions elsewhere in the former Soviet sphere.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Be Brave in a Contrarian Moment Skeptics are seeing political headwinds and fearing weak returns left and right.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Local interest in Madrid is so strong that Kairat decided not to allow fans to attend this afternoon’s UEFA Youth League under-19 game between the two clubs, fearing that an overwhelming number of supporters turning up could cause a distraction.
—Tomás Hill López-Menchero, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
The couple first emigrated to Ecuador, then to Colombia, but left fearing growing prejudice against Venezuelans.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Lourdes Martinez, co-director of Centro Legal de la Raza’s immigrant rights program in Oakland, recommended migrants fearing deportation in the East Bay contact her agency before visiting courthouses, to develop a plan in case ICE is waiting for them.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Hackers might have hesitated in the past to intentionally disrupt the systems that underpin American society, fearing retaliation or escalation.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearing
worrying
Verb
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Thankfully, with the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni, worrying about cleaning up has become a thing of the past.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Hurricanes far out into the ocean give forecasters the opportunity to observe the powerful heat machines without worrying about catastrophic landfalls.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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