fear
fear
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "fear" is /fɪər/.
fear: /fɪər/
Word Form Variations
Noun: fear (singular), fears (plural)
Verb: fear (base form), fears (third person singular present), feared (past tense, past participle), fearing (present participle)
Adjective: fearful, fearless, fearsome, feared (as in "a feared opponent")
Adverb: fearfully, fearlessly
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Fear
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Synonyms: terror, dread, apprehension, fright, panic, phobia, anxiety
Antonyms: courage, bravery, confidence, calm, boldness, assurance
A feeling of respect and wonder for something powerful or sacred.
Synonyms: awe, reverence, veneration, dread (in older contexts)
Antonyms: disrespect, contempt, disregard
Verb
Fear
To be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.
Synonyms: dread, apprehend, be scared of, be terrified of, be anxious about
Antonyms: brave, confront, welcome, embrace
To consider with apprehension or respect.
Synonyms: revere, venerate, respect, awe
Antonyms: disrespect, scorn, defy
Adjective
Fearful
Feeling or showing fear or apprehension.
Synonyms: afraid, scared, timid, apprehensive, nervous, anxious
Antonyms: brave, courageous, bold, confident, unafraid
Causing fear or dread; terrible or dreadful.
Synonyms: dreadful, terrible, frightening, alarming, horrifying, awesome
Antonyms: pleasant, reassuring, comforting, harmless
Fearless
Lacking fear; brave and courageous.
Synonyms: brave, courageous, bold, daring, intrepid, valiant
Antonyms: fearful, timid, cowardly, apprehensive
Fearsome
Frightening, especially in appearance or capability.
Synonyms: terrifying, formidable, menacing, daunting, dreadful
Antonyms: comforting, gentle, harmless, reassuring
Adverb
Fearfully
In a way that shows fear or anxiety.
Synonyms: nervously, timidly, apprehensively, anxiously, dreadfully
Antonyms: bravely, courageously, boldly, fearlessly
To an extreme degree; very (informal, British English).
Synonyms: very, extremely, terribly, immensely
Antonyms: slightly, barely, moderately
Fearlessly
Without fear; bravely.
Synonyms: bravely, courageously, boldly, daringly, intrepidly
Antonyms: fearfully, timidly, cowardly
Examples of Use
Books
Non-fiction: Psychology books often analyze the nature of "fear" and its impact on human behavior. For example, The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker discusses recognizing and trusting one's own sense of fear (Dell, January 1997). Historical accounts might describe the "fear" experienced by soldiers in battle.
Fiction: Characters frequently experience or confront "fear." "A cold fear gripped her heart." A protagonist might have to "fear for their life" or "fear the unknown." Stephen King's novels often explore various aspects of human fear.
Newspapers
News Articles: Journalists report on public "fear" regarding crime, economic instability, or global events. A headline might read, "Fear of Recession Looms Over Global Markets" (Bloomberg, June 2025). Articles might also cover how leaders try to alleviate public fear.
Editorials/Opinion Pieces: Columnists might argue that "political rhetoric often exploits public fear" or that "we must not succumb to fear."
Sports Sections: A report might mention a team that shows "no fear" against a strong opponent.
Online Publications
Health and Wellness Sites: Many articles discuss managing anxiety and overcoming "fear," such as "5 Strategies to Conquer Your Public Speaking Fear."
Blogs: Personal development blogs often feature posts on facing one's "fears" or how "fear holds us back." Travel blogs might recount overcoming a fear of heights.
Social Media: Users might share posts about their personal fears or express "fear" about current events. "My biggest fear is losing my pet."
News Sites: Online news might publish surveys on public fears regarding various issues.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movies/TV Shows (Horror/Thriller): These genres are built around evoking "fear" in the audience. A character might whisper, "I fear the worst." Dialogue often focuses on understanding or escaping a source of fear.
Video Games: Horror games are designed to create a sense of "fear" through atmosphere and jump scares. Players might experience "fear" when facing a powerful enemy.
Music: Song lyrics often explore themes of "fear," dread, or overcoming fear. "No more fear in my heart."
Podcasts: True-crime podcasts might discuss the role of fear in criminal behavior, or a self-help podcast might talk about how to confront your fears.
Stand-up Comedy: Comedians often joke about common human fears like public speaking or spiders.
General Public Discourse
Conversations: In daily speech, people commonly say, "I fear I can't make it," or "My biggest fear is heights." "Don't fear failure."
Workplace: Colleagues might discuss "fear of change" or concerns that "the new policy will cause fear among employees."
Education: Teachers might explain how "fear of failure" can hinder learning. Students might express their "fear of a difficult exam."
Public Speeches: Leaders often address the "fears of the nation" or urge people to "overcome their fears."
10 Quotes Using Fear
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer." (Frank Herbert, Dune)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." (Nelson Mandela)
"He who has overcome his fears will truly be free." (Aristotle)
"Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears." (Rudyard Kipling)
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." (H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature)
"Everything you want is on the other side of fear." (Jack Canfield)
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." (1 John 4:18, KJV)
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." (Marcus Aurelius)
Etymology
The word "fear" comes from the Old English word "fǣr," which meant "sudden danger," "calamity," or "terror." It's related to similar words in Germanic languages that conveyed a sense of sudden hostile attack or peril.
The first known use of "fear" in English, with the meaning of "a sudden event causing dread or danger," dates back to before the 9th century. Over time, its meaning shifted from the external cause of terror to the internal emotion itself – the feeling of dread or apprehension we experience when faced with danger.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fear
Strike fear into: To cause intense fear in someone or a group. "The approaching storm struck fear into the villagers' hearts."
Fear of God: A deep respect or dread, often implying obedience. "His strict upbringing instilled in him the fear of God."
Fear itself: A reference to Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous quote, emphasizing the paralyzing nature of fear. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
No fear: Used to express confidence or absence of apprehension. "He faced the challenge with no fear."
For fear of: To avoid a particular danger or consequence. "She kept silent for fear of offending him."
Fear of missing out (FOMO): Anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often fueled by social media. "Many young people experience fear of missing out when seeing friends' travel posts."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fear from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
