ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

fear

noun · verb

Words like fear

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51 words · noun, verbSort by

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MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01noun

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

02noun

an anxious feeling

“care had aged him”

“they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction”

03noun

a feeling of profound respect for someone or something

“the fear of God”

“the Chinese reverence for the dead”

04verb

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

“I fear she might get aggressive”

4 more meanings

05verb

be afraid or scared of; be frightened of

“I fear the winters in Moscow”

“We should not fear the Communists!”

06verb

be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement

“I fear I won't make it to your wedding party”

07verb

be uneasy or apprehensive about

“I fear the results of the final exams”

08verb

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

“Fear God as your father”

“We venerate genius”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗