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
Examples 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
David Litt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Durin the Elder, faced with this dread nightmare, realizes he’s been deceived and takes off the Ring.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 2 Dec. 2024
Related article Orthorexia: An eating disorder that few people understand and many accidentally applaud
If parents want to lay the foundation for a lifelong enjoyment of movement, turning exercise into something associated with dread or shame isn’t the answer.
—Oona Hanson, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Those studio notes that Alvarez dreaded were actually inspiring.
—Lisa Rosen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dread 
Adjective
There’s something behind them, though—exhaustion, dread, sheer bewilderment at the choices some of his fellow Americans have made.
—David Litt, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Durin the Elder, faced with this dread nightmare, realizes he’s been deceived and takes off the Ring.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
The original Silent Hill games made the most of the original PlayStation and PS2's limited hardware, so Konami's decision to contract developers Bloober Team to helm a modern reimaging was met with more than a little dread.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 2 Dec. 2024
Related article Orthorexia: An eating disorder that few people understand and many accidentally applaud
If parents want to lay the foundation for a lifelong enjoyment of movement, turning exercise into something associated with dread or shame isn’t the answer.
—Oona Hanson, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
In the days and weeks that followed, Alexander came to dread the hours after bedtime, when Daphna, who kept her emotions in check all day for Olivia and Zoë, broke down, sobbing for much of the night like someone in physical pain.
—Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Those studio notes that Alvarez dreaded were actually inspiring.
—Lisa Rosen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
-
The paranormal phenomena spooking Spongebob and Squidward has a mundane explanation, but the entity flickering the lights turns out to be none other than Nosferatu, who reassures them with a terrifying smile; amusingly, Spongebob and Squidward are relieved to see him.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
-
In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzer was awakened to a terrifying sight.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Pentagon officials tried and failed to block the deal at the time, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which cited worries that AMD had transferred crucial know-how that could aid China’s military and domestic semiconductor ambitions.Billy Perrigo, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
-
In fact, our primary worry on this front is less about workers staying in their roles longer and more about declining immigration, which has been a source of economic strength in recent years.Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
If Friday the 13th worries you, others share your fear.Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
-
Advertising from telehealth companies, along with data showing that a sizable portion of men who get testosterone don’t even get their levels checked beforehand, lends credence to their fears.Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Luigi Mangione already was charged with murder in the Dec. 4 killing of Brian Thompson, but the terror allegation is new.Jake Offenhartz and Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
-
Terrifier 3—the shock horror hit where Art the Clown brings terror to the Christmas season—is arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD this week.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
That Daniel Penny acted to defend others from a frightening figure on the train was of no legal relevance, from the prosecution’s point of view, given that Neely did not have a weapon or threaten a specific passenger directly.Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
-
However, Humbert decided to go it alone and ended up being the victim of quite a frightening shark attack.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Cycling anxiety thoughts in the middle of the night.Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
-
Levels of stress, anxiety and depression are already alarmingly high among U.S. adults.Sujay Saha, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Needless to say, Orlok will make the trip to Wisborg — arriving in Germany like a plague, with Thomas all but crawling back home to his wife behind him — long before Western society will learn to accept that denying human desire is less a collective victory than a personal self-defeat.David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Dec. 2024
-
Otherwise, butterfly larvae would be like locusts, like a plague.Outside Online, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
History says such a two-year performance in itself is neither a scary portent nor a ticket to further riches.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
-
But now, starting Severino at home in Sacramento will be scary, given the dimensions and likely hitter-friendly environment there.Michael Waterloo, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dread
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share