Word Explorer

Fear

/fɪə/

A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.

📖 Definitions of "Fear"

noun

1
A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
"He was struck by fear on seeing the snake."
2
A phobia, a sense of fear induced by something or someone.
"Not everybody has the same fears. I have a fear of ants."
3
Terrified veneration or reverence, particularly towards God, gods, or sovereigns.

verb

1
To feel fear about (something or someone); to be afraid of; to consider or expect with alarm.
"I fear the worst will happen."
2
To feel fear (about something).
"Never fear; help is always near."
3
(used with for) To worry about, to feel concern for, to be afraid for.
"She fears for her son’s safety."
4
To venerate; to feel awe towards.
"People who fear God can be found in Christian churches."

8 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
reverencenoun	Veneration; profound awe and respect, normally in a sacred context.
dreadnoun	(transitive) To fear greatly.
venerateverb	(transitive) To treat with great respect and deference.
concernnoun	That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A matter of interest to someone.
frightnoun	A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
fearfulnessnoun	The quality of being fearful.
carenoun	Close attention; concern; responsibility.
revereverb	(transitive) To regard someone or something with great awe or devotion.

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
braverynoun	(usually uncountable) Being brave, courageousness.
fearlessnessnoun	The quality of being fearless.

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
fearfulnessnoun	The quality of being fearful.
dreadnoun	Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of danger; anticipatory terror.
frightnoun	A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
carenoun	Close attention; concern; responsibility.
concernnoun	That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A matter of interest to someone.
venerateverb	(transitive) To treat with great respect and deference.
reverencenoun	Veneration; profound awe and respect, normally in a sacred context.
reverenoun	A revers.
terrornoun	(countable, uncountable) Intense dread, fright, or fear.
worriedverb	Thinking about unpleasant things that have happened or that might happen; feeling afraid and unhappy.
horrornoun	(countable, uncountable) An intense distressing emotion of fear or repugnance.
scarenoun	A cause of terror or alarm; a panic; something that inspires fear or dread.
frightenverb	(transitive) To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.
frightened	Afraid; suffering from fear.
scaredverb	Feeling fear; afraid, frightened.
trepidationnoun	Anxiety over the uncertain future or possible ill-occurrence.
afraid	Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
spooky	(informal) Eerie, or suggestive of ghosts or the supernatural.
panicked	Experiencing or in a state of panic.
anxietynoun	An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.