fear

fear

n.

1. Alarm occasioned by immediate danger

   dread, fright, terror, horror, panic, alarm, consternation, dismay, awe, scare, abhorrence, revulsion, aversion, tremor, bodily fear, mortal terror, funk*, cold feet*, cold sweat*, chills*; see also sense 2.

   Antonyms courage*, intrepidity*, dash. *

2. General apprehension

   anxiety, trepidation, dread, timidity, cowardice, misgiving, trembling, uneasiness, fear and trembling, disquietude, perturbation, phobia, bugbear, irresolution, fearfulness, foreboding, despair, agitation, hesitation, nervousness, jumpiness, worry, concern, suspicion, doubt, qualm, presentiment, faintheartedness, timorousness, abject fear, the creeps*; see also sense 1; cowardice, nervousness 1.

   Antonyms courage*, bravery*, boldness.

fear is the general term for the anxiety and agitation felt at the presence of danger; dread refers to the fear or depression felt in anticipating something dangerous or disagreeable to live in dread of poverty; fright applies to a sudden, shocking, usually momentary fear the mouse gave her a fright; alarm implies the fright felt at the sudden realization of danger he felt alarm at the sight of the pistol; terror applies to an overwhelming, often paralyzing fear the terror of soldiers in combat; panic refers to a frantic, unreasoning fear, often one that spreads quickly and leads to irrational, aimless action the cry of ``fire!"" created a panic

for fear of

fear

v.

1. To anticipate immediate danger

   be afraid, be frightened, be alarmed, lose courage, falter, stand in awe of, be scared, stand aghast, live in terror, dare not, have qualms, cower, take fright, quaver, flinch, shrink, quail, quake, cringe, shudder, freeze, turn pale, blanch, start, tremble, shy, lose one's nerve, break out in a sweat*, get cold feet*, chicken out*, wimp out*.

   Antonyms outface, withstand, dare.

2. To be apprehensive

   apprehend, dread, fret; see worry 2.