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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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

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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

We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust. — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 Shares of Netflix are down 20% year-to-date on fears the streamer’s days of double-digit gains are coming to an end. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Give Honest, Timely Updates While change can be good, people fear uncertainty and the possible negative effects of change. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Native American leaders feared the state's largest Dakota language archives had been lost. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fear

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear

Noun

When the line between general unease with not knowing crosses into anxiety that interferes with daily life, people should seek professional help, said Dugas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Given Abbey’s anxieties about spending money and fear of not having enough, Stacy plans to use very conservative assumptions for inflation, health costs and average returns when making her projections based on Abbey’s savings today.

— Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 17 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

Long before the shooting, every school drop-off carried a quiet dread.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
With homes nearly toppling into the ocean and back-to-back floods and hurricanes amplifying our sense of dread, keeping track of all things El Niño can be overwhelming.

— Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

Patients complete an online survey covering their skin concerns, history, current routine and goals, which is reviewed by a clinician licensed in their state.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
YouTube Dividing Lines Drawn The inseparable relationship between YouTube and TV was clear for all to see at MIPCOM Cannes but serious concerns from the latter remain.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

When the line between general unease with not knowing crosses into anxiety that interferes with daily life, people should seek professional help, said Dugas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Beyond elevated yield levels, the widening spread between French and German benchmark sovereign bonds reflects growing investor unease over France's fiscal trajectory and debt servicing capacity.

— , CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of unease

Noun

Phobos and Deimos take their names from the Greek mythological personifications of fear and terror, sons of the war god Ares, whose Roman counterpart is Mars.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Founded in 2015 by Thomas Brag, Matt Dajer, Ammar Kandil and Derin Emre, the group gained traction through their videos about travel, adventure and, in the wake of terror attacks in Beirut and Paris, inclusivity.

— Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fear

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Synonyms of fear

noun

verb

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Face Your Fears

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on fear

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