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
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Recent Examples of dread
Erik Kain, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Presence is something else, a film that builds dread but also has some poetry in its heart.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
My mornings began with a monotonous dread that would persist throughout the day.
—Charley Locke, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 19 Mar. 2025
For instance, Mercury is the planet of communication, thought processes and technology, which is why many often dread the effects that come with this astrological phenomenon.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Adjective
The thrumming bass undercurrent, rising like some dread unknown beneath it all.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Presence is something else, a film that builds dread but also has some poetry in its heart.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
But dodging it’s nearly impossible for most New Yorkers, so the dread just keeps simmering.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
My mornings began with a monotonous dread that would persist throughout the day.
—Charley Locke, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
The anticipation of this discomfort can cause people to dread any form of intimacy.
—Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 19 Mar. 2025
For instance, Mercury is the planet of communication, thought processes and technology, which is why many often dread the effects that come with this astrological phenomenon.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
-
Back in August, Renner spoke about how his terrifying snowplow accident in January 2023 led to his daughter becoming a little more independent.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The terrifying predicament happened Sunday, March 23, in a wooded area off Interstate 10 in LaPlace, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a March 26 news release.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Inflation, tariff worries drive consumers' outlooks to lowest levels in 12 years What are tariffs?—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Uncontrollable feelings of worry, unease, nervousness, and fear characterize anxiety disorders.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Adolescence escalates all these issues and fears to their most horrifying symbolic end.—
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
By the end of the month, the new moon in Taurus invites you to embrace more intimacy and transformation in your love life, even if that means facing your fears in the process.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The report was commissioned after the deadly New Year's Day terror attack on Bourbon Street when a man intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2025
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The suspect is now facing charges of assault with bodily injury with a previous conviction, injury to the elderly, continuous violence against family, resisting arrest and terror threat of family, McLennan County Jail records seen by PEOPLE show.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Good news California began trying to police ghost guns after those frightening findings came out, enacting legislation in both 2022 and 2023 to curtail their unregulated sales.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
But the bloodshed that unfolded March 6-10 in Latakia and Tartous represents a frightening escalation.—
Chris Massaro,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Consumer sentiment fell sharply in April, marking the fourth consecutive month of declines, as an intensifying trade war fueled anxiety over American jobs and rising inflation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
For the next year, Munn battled postpartum anxiety.—
Danielle Pergament,
SELF,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At the peak of the injury plague striking the Magic in January, third-year pro Caleb Houstan served as a spot-starter and joined Orlando‘s rotation as part of the second unit.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2025
-
On the north side of this strong storm system, wintry precipitation continues to plague parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and New England.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The scary part is how quickly and naturally this thinking could extend to current employees.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The abyss is a scary thing, and also, perhaps, freedom.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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