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. Roy Hodgson:

   You can't wipe the slate clean. We'll live with the fact it's been 50 years since we won a tournament but all we can do is hope the players approach this one with a relaxed attitude, my fear as a coach would be that the players take anxiety on to the field, that they're weighed down when they go out and don't play as well as they like, imagining the headlines.

2. Andres Meira:

   Until you live in one of these places you don't really understand the primitive fear of earthquakes, there are times when you can't sleep and sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night and make sure things aren't moving.

3. Woodrow Wilson:

   Fear God and you need not fear anyone else.

4. Nathaniel Dominy:

   [Godzilla] is this ever-useful metaphor for whatever kinds of existential threat we fear as a collective culture, whether its nuclear bombs or climate change.

5. Ike Lalji:

   It doesn't mean I support China, but I understand China, because they fear a controversy is going to happen, i understand China's position too, because she is powerful. She has the whole media behind her.