FEARS Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

fears

verb

present tense third-person singular of fear

as in worries

to experience concern or anxiety her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of fears Wedding season is in full swing, bringing with it a familiar sense of dread for anyone who fears the dance floor. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 11 July 2026 Former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor fears what could happen if Americans lose faith the courts will apply the law without regard to politics, party or social standing. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 11 July 2026 With oil prices rising again and inflation fears returning to the forefront, other companies that rely on discretionary consumer spending also tumbled. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 8 July 2026 After eloping with a wealthy ski resort owner named Jay Morgan (played by Christopher Russell), gardener Kristin (Shenae Grimes-Beech) fears that her life may be in danger when Jay’s aunt turns up dead. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 But as someone put it, a politics that fears joy is deeply insecure. — Arminka Helic, Time, 30 June 2026 For decades, the Iranian people have lived under a government that fears freedom above all else. — Shaun McCutcheon, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 While 54% of Californians reportedly support it, the measure faces significant opposition, including from Governor Newsom, who fears economic harm from billionaire departures. — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Several high-profile billionaires have relocated to lower-tax states such as Texas and Florida, fueling opponents’ fears that the state’s tax base could erode further. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fears

worries

Verb

Bateman worries audiences may eventually stop caring whether a performance comes from a human being or AI.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Wolf worries about people being able to afford to stay in or move to the area and about protecting the health of local fisheries so important to the economy.

— Becky Bohrer, Fortune, 13 July 2026