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
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
Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Companies must walk a delicate line between protecting their inventory and creating stores that customers don’t dread visiting.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 22 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
Those dreading saying goodbye can always inquire about condo prices at the Four Seasons Private Residences, just next door.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Companies must walk a delicate line between protecting their inventory and creating stores that customers don’t dread visiting.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
-
His first book, Dark Days vividly and unflinchingly chronicled his terrifying experience being jailed on charges of manslaughter (he was acquitted on all counts).—
Bill Kopp,
SPIN,
20 Feb. 2025
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For those who have watched DOGE storm into their workplace, what is perhaps most terrifying is its attempts to scale.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
-
Had fear of exposure or rejection kept you from fully stepping into leadership or creative risk?—
Colin Bedell,
Them,
28 Feb. 2025
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According to polling by the Bipartisan Policy Center, nearly one in four mothers have considered leaving their jobs due to a lack of accommodations or fear of discrimination during pregnancy.—
G Kirilloff,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The revelation is the latest tragic twist for the Bibas family, who have become among the most recognizable victims of the October 7 terror attacks, with confirmation of their deaths triggering an outpouring of grief in Israel.—
Mohammed Tawfeeq,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
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That means stopping the campaigns of violence and terror by these vicious groups both in the United States and internationally.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The key, psychologists say, is the emotional weight of those headlines’ content—especially for people who find what’s happening in the U.S. today to be genuinely frightening.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Bates is frightening in her stillness, which makes Annie’s sudden bursts of violence all the more horrifying.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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While some financial hiccups are normal in early adulthood, ongoing instability could signal deeper struggles with budgeting, impulsivity or even financial anxiety.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
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Merz vowed to bring stronger leadership in Europe at a moment when Trump had sowed anxiety on the continent by scrambling traditional alliances and embracing Russia.—
Emmett Lindner,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 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
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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
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Soto, Judge trade barbs Once, long ago — ahem, last season — Juan Soto and Aaron Judge formed the scariest hitting combination in MLB.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
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But like the best scary movies, Horror has a strong ending.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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