Synonyms for fear
fɪərfear

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. fear

   Fear is the generic term denoting an emotion excited by threatening evil with a desire to avoid or escape it; fear may be sudden or lingering, in view of present, of imminent, or of distant and only possible danger; in the latter sense dread is oftener used. Horror (etymologically a shivering or shuddering) denotes a shuddering fear accompanied with abhorrence or such a shock to the feelings and sensibilities as may exist without fear, as when one suddenly encounters some ghastly spectacle; we say of a desperate but fettered criminal, "I looked upon him with horror." Where horror includes fear, it is fear mingled with abhorrence. (See ABHOR.) Affright, fright, and terror are always sudden, and in actual presence of that which is terrible. Fear may overwhelm, or may nerve one to desperate defense; fright and terror render one incapable of defense; fear may be controlled by force of will; fright and terror overwhelm the will; terror paralyzes, fright may cause one to fly, to scream, or to swoon. Fright is largely a matter of the nerves; fear of the intellect and the imagination; terror of all the faculties, bodily and mental. Panic is a sudden fear or fright, affecting numbers at once; vast armies or crowded audiences are liable to panic upon slight occasion. In a like sense we speak of a financial panic. Dismay is a helpless sinking of heart in view of some overwhelming peril or sorrow. Dismay is more reflective, enduring, and despairing than fright; a horse is subject to fright or terror, but not to dismay. Awe is a reverential fear. Compare ALARM.

   See synonyms for FORTITUDE.

   Synonyms:
   affright, apprehension, awe, consternation, dismay, disquietude, dread, fright, horror, misgiving, panic, terror, timidity, trembling, tremor, trepidation

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. fear

   Synonyms:
   apprehension, solicitude alarm, fright, dread, terror, trepidation, dismay, consternation, misgiving, horror, timidity, awe

   Antonyms:
   assurance, confidence, courage, fearlessness, trust, boldness

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. fear, fearfulness, frightnoun

   an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

   Synonyms:
   awe, fearfulness, care, concern, fright, veneration, reverence

   Antonyms:
   bravery, fearlessness

2. concern, care, fearnoun

   an anxious feeling

   "care had aged him"; "they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction"

   Synonyms:
   headache, business concern, fright, business organisation, aid, worry, tending, fearfulness, upkeep, business organization, veneration, precaution, forethought, caution, awe, reverence, care, charge, tutelage, guardianship, business, vexation, maintenance, attention, concern

   Antonyms:
   bravery, fearlessness

3. fear, reverence, awe, venerationverb

   a feeling of profound respect for someone or something

   "the fear of God"; "the Chinese reverence for the dead"; "the French treat food with gentle reverence"; "his respect for the law bordered on veneration"

   Synonyms:
   awe, idolatry, fearfulness, devotion, care, concern, fright, veneration, reverence, cultism

   Antonyms:
   bravery, fearlessness

4. fearverb

   be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

   "I fear she might get aggressive"

   Synonyms:
   reverence, venerate, dread, revere

   Antonyms:
   bravery, fearlessness

5. fear, dreadverb

   be afraid or scared of; be frightened of

   "I fear the winters in Moscow"; "We should not fear the Communists!"

   Synonyms:
   reverence, venerate, dread, revere

   Antonyms:
   fearlessness, bravery

6. fearverb

   be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement

   "I fear I won't make it to your wedding party"

   Synonyms:
   reverence, venerate, dread, revere

   Antonyms:
   fearlessness, bravery

7. fearverb

   be uneasy or apprehensive about

   "I fear the results of the final exams"

   Synonyms:
   reverence, venerate, dread, revere

   Antonyms:
   fearlessness, bravery

8. reverence, fear, revere, venerateverb

   regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of

   "Fear God as your father"; "We venerate genius"

   Synonyms:
   hero-worship, idolize, dread, revere, reverence, worship, venerate, idolise

   Antonyms:
   fearlessness, bravery

Matched Categories

1. • Anxiety
   • Emotion
   • Regret
   • Respect
   • Worry

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. phobe

   Submitted by anonymous on December 2, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. fearnoun

   Synonyms:
   alarm, trepidation, dread, apprehension, fright, affright, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic

2. fearnoun

   Synonyms:
   anxiety, solicitude, concern

3. fearnoun

   Synonyms:
   veneration, reverence, awe, reverential regard

4. fearverb

   Synonyms:
   dread, apprehend, be afraid of

5. fearverb

   Synonyms:
   reverence, venerate, stand in awe of, have a reverential regard for

6. fearverb

   Synonyms:
   be afraid, have apprehensions, live in terror, stand aghast

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. fearnoun

   Synonyms:
   apprehension, anxiety, solicitude, alarm, dread, trepidation, consternation, panic, dismay, terror, fright, cowardliness, timidity, pusillanimity, reverence, awe, veneration

2. fearverb

   Synonyms:
   apprehend, dread, be afraid of, reverence, venerate, stand in awe of

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:4.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "fear":

   afraid, scared, apprehension, frightened, concern, anxiety, scare, terror, worry, dread, fright, suck, bang, angst, panic, worried, horror

Suggested Resources

1. fear

   Song lyrics by fear -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by fear on the Lyrics.com website.

2. FEAR

   What does FEAR stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FEAR acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

How to pronounce fear?

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How to use fear in a sentence?

1. Rome Visco:

   However the crisis could have more serious repercussions if it rekindles the fear among international investors that the euro zone is not irreversible, in this case coordinated action by national and European authorities( to counter market market tensions) will be indispensable.

2. Lucio Mozzo:

   I think fear is prevailing. It is fomented by what people hear about crime, and they ask questions like 'how do we manage these people? What will they do? How long will they stay?'.

3. Joe Biden:

   At this moment, when there's so much fear in the country and so much fear across the world, we need American leadership, we need presidential leadership that's honest, trusted, truthful and steady, reassuring leadership.

4. Ryan Young:

   Our biggest fear is this was a rapid what we call radicalization to mobilization to violence, sometimes we get asked What keeps you up at night? This is a case that keeps us up at night.

5. Tyrone Hall:

   We fear having to concede on too many issues that would damage the very integrity of the Paris Agreement.