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
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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
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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fear
Courtenay Brown, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
Amid Uncertainty These recommendations arise from fears of a repeat of the travel ban enacted during Trump’s first term in 2017.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
State officials fear that if Aliso shuts down before Southern California has sufficiently reduced its reliance on gas, utility bills could skyrocket — especially for people who haven’t switched from gas heating and cooking to electric heat pumps and induction stoves.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fear 
Noun
The big picture: What looked like slowing rates of price gains earlier this year has given way to fears that inflation might get stuck above the 2% level desired by policymakers.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
Amid Uncertainty These recommendations arise from fears of a repeat of the travel ban enacted during Trump’s first term in 2017.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
Thompson’s killing has catapulted the masked shooter into cause célèbre status for some who consider the crime a symbolic repudiation of the country’s health care system, and authorities fear the shooting may inspire copycat attacks.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
State officials fear that if Aliso shuts down before Southern California has sufficiently reduced its reliance on gas, utility bills could skyrocket — especially for people who haven’t switched from gas heating and cooking to electric heat pumps and induction stoves.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fear
Noun
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Lazarus also encourages people not to let anxiety and fear control them.Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
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Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder, so there is some overlap between sleep anxiety and sleep phobia (somniphobia).Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Pentagon officials tried and failed to block the deal at the time, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which cited worries that AMD had transferred crucial know-how that could aid China’s military and domestic semiconductor ambitions.Billy Perrigo, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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In fact, our primary worry on this front is less about workers staying in their roles longer and more about declining immigration, which has been a source of economic strength in recent years.Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical concerns, and do not ignore professional advice based on information from MediKarma.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
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Key Background Recreational and commercial drones have surged in popularity, with nearly a million registered by the FAA, leading to growing concerns about unsafe or malicious use.Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In a year of exuberance and dread, songs came from every which way to comfort, to amuse, to haunt, to tantalize.August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
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In addition, Head owns leading binding brand Tyrolia, and the Protector bindings are a major safety innovation and big deal in the marketplace, designed to help prevent knee injuries, a dread of skiers everywhere.Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Jobs have been scarce since the end of the peak TV era, leading to a general sense of unease among the membership.Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Dec. 2024
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Reports suggest plans are already creating unease among federal workers who are concerned about whether their jobs may be cut by the incoming administration.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The same thing happened a year earlier, when the initial outset of the pandemic triggered a panic among investors.Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2024
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Key Background After the July jobs report briefly sent a panic through Wall Street as unemployment unexpectedly spiked to 4.3%, triggering one recession indicator, concerns about the health of the labor market have abated in recent months.Derek Saul, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Luigi Mangione already was charged with murder in the Dec. 4 killing of Brian Thompson, but the terror allegation is new.Jake Offenhartz and Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
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Terrifier 3—the shock horror hit where Art the Clown brings terror to the Christmas season—is arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD this week.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Fear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fear. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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