fear 1 of 2

noun

ˈfir How to pronounce fear (audio)
Definition of fearnext
1
as in anxiety
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worry
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble fear for her family's safety drove her to seek help from neighbors she hardly knew

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fear

2 of 2

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

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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
The hope was that Mike Ditka didn’t answer the phone, because the fear was Iron Mike would pick up. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026 Fear of default then leads to even more capital flight, which increases fears of default and the interest rate, and the vicious circle deepens. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
Investors fear a potential resumption of large-scale fighting in the strait or attacks on oil infrastructure in the region, some analysts said. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 Cases of the week often extend into what feels like contemporary science-fiction, where the drastic implications of Big Tech’s overreach represent the existential threat to humanity they’re often feared (or touted) to be. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
  1. anxiety
  2. worry
  3. dread
  4. concern
  5. panic
  6. unease
  7. terror
Noun
  • The Social Reckoning stars Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White each had their own unique anxieties about following up 2010’s beloved The Social Network.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The unrest followed days of clashes in Liège, where more than 200 people were arrested, while demonstrators in Brussels described growing anxiety over the cost of daily life.
    — Mark Carlson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Noun
  • Plush carpeting, touches of turquoise in a largely eggshell-forward palette, tasteful landscape paintings that border on abstract, and spacious private balconies make up the subtle suite design, allaying any worries of dowdy beach resort decor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Those moves have helped the stock market climb a wall of worry in the intervening years, including in 2026.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Part of our collective mounting dread is that this technology is far outstripping the ability, access, and time required to study its effects on human beings.
    — Laura Reiley, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of fond memories of her father, Wynne was filled with dread.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of dread
Noun
  • Bird has concerns, particularly around the build-up of power around technological advancements, which push the film into surprising and exciting dystopian directions.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • By that point, family members of those on board had raised concerns about dwindling food supplies and low morale.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • Perhaps more relevant, these concerns arrived hundreds of billions of investment dollars prior to the latest AI-extinction panic.
    — Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Liz has written a lot about the panic in private credit being overblown, but there are some real questions about the quality of its loans — from regulators, not just us in the press.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of panic
Noun
  • That slight sense of unease, coupled with Faith’s crystalline country voice and boundary-pushing songwriting, is at the core of her record Cherry Valley (and the recent deluxe version, Cherry Valley Forever).
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Asked whether the ongoing appeals create any unease, Rosario waved it off.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • In-line fours got bigger, went a hell of a lot faster, and schooled several generations of riders in sheer terror, while simultaneously addicting them to industrial doses of adrenaline.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
  • More than 1,200 people – mostly civilians – were killed in the terror attack.
    — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of terror

Browse Nearby Words

fealty
fear
feared
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Cite this Entry

“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fear

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