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fear

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verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fear distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fear are alarm, dread, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

When might alarm be a better fit than fear?

The words alarm and fear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

In what contexts can dread take the place of fear?

The synonyms dread and fear are sometimes interchangeable, but dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

Where would fright be a reasonable alternative to fear?

While the synonyms fright and fear are close in meaning, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

When can panic be used instead of fear?

The words panic and fear can be used in similar contexts, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When is terror a more appropriate choice than fear?

In some situations, the words terror and fear are roughly equivalent. However, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How are the words trepidation and dread related as synonyms of fear?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

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 fear
Noun
Many in the scientific community have begun to talk about how to move forward, but fears remain that the Trump administration will proceed with its own report, assigning authors that represent alternative viewpoints on climate change. Tracy J. Wholf, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025 And learning how to adapt and how to provide the real solutions to the concerns and fears in coal communities would be a more effective strategy than promising them a return that isn't going to happen. Arkansas Online, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
One of the reasons people fear the onslaught of AI is that the long-term potential and consequences of it are unclear. David Morel, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Video of unidentified men detaining suspect raises civil liberties fears A video showing a man being hauled away from a Virginia courthouse raises new questions about how federal immigration agents are operating. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
  • Sewing anxiety and confusion are usually first steps from Trump ahead of negotiation.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 5 May 2025
  • Annoying airport delays, congested highways and spiraling vacation costs can result in stress and anxiety.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • Not Enough People Are Watching ‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Saturday, April 26 New Google Leak Reveals Subscription Changes For Gemini AI There is no shortage of worries for European auto manufacturers.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The comments came at a conference organized by the Hamm Institute for American Energy in Oklahoma City and run counter to recent worries that tech companies would pull back if belts get tightened. 4.
    Sara Salinas, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Cost of living and climate concerns outweighed culture wars Australian voters put their faith in Albanese’s plans for tackling the high cost of living and climate change over Dutton’s Trump-style ideological approach, which at times did not appear to be backed by policy proposals.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • For many workers, there is a big concern over whether or not their jobs will be impacted.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • When the slasher eventually appears, stealing the group’s car before murdering them with a humorous bluntness, there is also a real atmosphere of dread.
    Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But his ailment looked to be grave enough to warrant dread.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, polls show that the drop in Trump's approval ratings could be driven by unease about the state of the economy.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • On the mid to lower six-figure pitch where most Americans play, the majority of buyers are still spooked by punitive interest rates, stubborn inflation, and a legitimate unease about buying high.
    Peter Lane Taylor, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Without firing a shot, China could liquidate these assets and cause instability in our financial markets raising interest rates, weakening the dollar and creating a panic.
    Paul Bernstein, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
  • Dylan Cozens gets the glory of a short-handed goal that put Maple Leafs fans in a panic entering Game 6.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Dedicated to the 184 victims who died at the Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 77 during the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, the somber National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial features 184 illuminated benches situated among 84 Crepe Myrtle trees.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
  • Democracy is based on trust whereas dictatorships are based on terror.
    Paul Bernstein, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

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