# fear

**Pronunciation:** /fɪər/ · feer

**CEFR level:** A2

**Part of speech:** noun

## Meaning

An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

## Examples

- The fear of spiders is very common.
- He felt a deep fear as he walked alone in the dark forest.
- Her biggest fear is public speaking.

## Synonyms

- worry — Feeling uneasy or concerned about something.
- anxiety — A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
- terror — Extreme fear, often sudden and overwhelming.
- dread — Anticipation of something terrible; great fear or apprehension.

## Antonyms

- bravery — Willingness to face danger or pain.
- courage — The ability to do something that frightens one.
- calmness — The state of being free from agitation or disturbance.

## Common patterns

- fear of — The specific thing that causes the feeling of fear. — My greatest fear is of losing my job.
- fear that — Expressing worry about a future event. — I fear that we won't have enough time.

## Collocations

- feel fear — I feel a sense of fear when I think about it.
- overcome fear — She managed to overcome her fear of heights.
- in fear — They lived in fear of discovery.
- irrational fear — His fear of flying is completely irrational.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/feared

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