FEAR Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

fear 1 of 2

noun

ˈfir

Definition of fear

as in anxiety

the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the sight of the headless horseman filled the schoolmaster with fear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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

There are also fears that tropical milkweed can lure monarchs away from their usual migration route and away from plants that are beneficial to them. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026 This has sparked fears that some bodies may have been mistakenly given to the wrong families. — CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Verb

Others fear the current government might not respect the outcome of the election if the Student List were to win. — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 That set off the massive investigation where detectives have linked seven missing women to the home — five of whom are feared to be dead. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear

Noun

Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.

— Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
The market for profiting off male body anxiety is nothing new.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

There are so many organizations working to protect the voting process -- including many that cannot legally coordinate with each other -- that some officials involved worry about unintentionally creating chaos outside polling locations.

— STEVE PEOPLES, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Those talks collapsed over price and worries about antitrust pushback, neither of which hold true today.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

The singer-songwriter’s seventh album is their wackiest and funniest to date, with a madcap gleam coursing through its synth-pop portraits of lovable weirdos and suburban dread.

— Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

Mental health experts have voiced concerns about chatbots’ sycophancy, lack of clinical nuance, and ability to reinforce delusional beliefs.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
The deal drew concern from legislators and delivery drivers, who worried about reduced competition.

— Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

This week, Indonesian equities experienced another round of panic selling, triggered by reports that major index provider MSCI is considering downgrading the country's stock market status.

— , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
The few instances of panic were magnified by newspapers eager to discredit the new medium of radio.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of panic

Noun

French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting a racist terror attack, saying people were targeted due to their religion and the color of their skin.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Iran's proxy gang - the Yemeni terror group known as the Houthis - has recently killed civilians in Saudi Arabia with attacks on the airport.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of terror

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fealty

fear

feared

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“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fear

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verb

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Synonyms of fear

noun

verb

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Articles Related to fear

Face Your Fears

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on fear

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Games & Quizzes