as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
shaking with trepidation, I stepped into the old abandoned house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trepidation
This trepidation only grew as the Pacmania craze took hold in the early 1980s.
—
Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Cameron puts on his military uniform every day filled with trepidation, good intentions and the innocence of young adulthood, plus a spirit that won't be squashed by the angriest drill instructor.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Throughout the years, Alex brought Kiba to different veterinarians, and each time she would be met with some trepidation.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
In 1962, National Geographic sent a Dutch photographer named Hugo van Lawick to capture her work, and after some initial trepidation, the two became close and later married.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trepidation
Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Cameron puts on his military uniform every day filled with trepidation, good intentions and the innocence of young adulthood, plus a spirit that won't be squashed by the angriest drill instructor.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Throughout the years, Alex brought Kiba to different veterinarians, and each time she would be met with some trepidation.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
In 1962, National Geographic sent a Dutch photographer named Hugo van Lawick to capture her work, and after some initial trepidation, the two became close and later married.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trepidation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trepidation
Noun
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Despite the occasional mutual love, progressives have argued that Sliwa has previously stoked racist fears and encouraged vigilante aggression.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Glossier is supporting other alumni of its 5-year-old grant program this year because of the challenges so many of these emerging brands are facing—and despite political fear among many other companies to keep these kinds of programs going.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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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Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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Imagine not suffering existential dread over Tilly Norwood; imagine the freedom to choose to use AI for interstitial shots without kicking the Letterboxd hornets’ nest, as did the brothers Cairnes with Late Night With the Devil back in 2024.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trepidation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trepidation. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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