as in terrifying
causing fear
every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in worry
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
the dread felt by people awaiting bad news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
we were filled with dread when we saw the rapids we would be rafting down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terror
something or someone that causes fear or dread especially without reason
speaking in public is a perennial dread for many people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dread
Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025
The inspiration was more words and feelings: fragility, vulnerability, dread, intense love, all of these words that evoke weights of fabric, delicacy, what part of the body might be visible.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
Sometimes the release comes with a feeling of dread.
—Grace Hussar, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Stackcommerce Team (sponsored), PCMAG, 7 Feb. 2025
About 40 miles south, Marianne Hunter dreads the rain because of an another ongoing disaster: the landslides on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Adjective
From there the reality sets in slowly, dread permeating the show through other characters until Noor finds out.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025
The inspiration was more words and feelings: fragility, vulnerability, dread, intense love, all of these words that evoke weights of fabric, delicacy, what part of the body might be visible.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
And having already proven her scary-movie bona fides with last year’s Heretic, Thatcher does a lot of the heavy lifting here, and brings a real sense of brokenhearted bewilderment, existential dread, and eventually, an avenging-angel sense of righteousness to Iris.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
Sometimes the release comes with a feeling of dread.
—Grace Hussar, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
But then, the inevitable happens: that dreaded Storage Full notification pops up.
—Stackcommerce Team (sponsored), PCMAG, 7 Feb. 2025
About 40 miles south, Marianne Hunter dreads the rain because of an another ongoing disaster: the landslides on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
-
The harsh environment, mostly devoid of human presence, feels almost terrifying in its vastness—but that feeling quickly gives way to awe and excitement.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The terrifying incident unfolded Saturday morning, shortly after the Boeing 767 lifted off from its runway at Newark Liberty Airport.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That’s all well and good, but this latest game was as good a sign as any that those worries might not age well.—
Sam Amick,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Another major worry for those who’ve been able to live in their homes is all the trash.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The number of cancellations comes from a person who asked for anonymity because of the fear of repercussions at the Post.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Soft signals about the economy The pullback in spending comes at a time when American consumers are growing increasingly pessimistic on fears that inflation will pick up because of President Donald Trump’s talk of wide-ranging tariffs, according to various surveys.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
On January 1, revelers rang in the new year to tragedy when a terror attack claimed 15 lives and left 57 injured.—
Harriet Shepherd,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Celebrated around the world, Mardi Gras holds a special meaning for the citizens of New Orleans, especially after the terror attack on the city’s famed Bourbon Street on New Year’s Eve.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Its mechanical legs resemble a Star Wars stormtrooper while its humanoid design, featuring extended coil arms and over-resilient survival adaptability, is both awesome and a little frightening — mankind’s extinction made cute.—
Armond White,
National Review,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Funny how quickly things change in the NHL. Or frightening.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In the film, Shear stars as Sam, a once-promising law student whose anxiety has slowly chipped away at his confidence in all areas of his life.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Qigong also was found helpful in treating arthritis, depression and anxiety, and hypertension in a May 2022 study published in the Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research.—
Melanie Radzicki McManus,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
According to Stanford historian Walter Scheidel, over the past 2,000 years, only four forces have reversed growing economic inequality: mass-mobilization warfare, transformative revolutions, state collapse, and catastrophic plagues.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The progress is undone; however, when two kids' excursion into an infected zone sets events in motion, the zombie plague spread throughout the community.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
People can discover new ways of relating to our bodies or different ways of thinking about transness or queerness in ways that aren’t so scary or alienating for them but that feel inviting and welcoming.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Weighty — and scary — subject matter for a tween, Blair got the role of Regan with just a couple of prior credits under her belt.—
Diana Pearl,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share