dreaded; dreading; dreads
1
a
: to fear greatly
can't swim and dreads the water
a dreaded disease
b
archaic
: to regard with awe
2
: to feel extreme reluctance to meet or face
dread the future
dreaded telling him the truth
dread the thought of speaking in public
: to be apprehensive or fearful
dread not
1
a
: great fear especially in the face of impending evil
were filled with dread by reports of another terrorist attack
b
: extreme uneasiness in the face of a disagreeable prospect (see prospect entry 1 sense 4c)
dread of a social blunder
c
archaic
: awe
2
: one causing fear or awe
the days of wooden ships and wooden homes, when fire was an omnipresent dread—
F. W. Saunders
F. W. Saunders3
a
: dreadlock sense 1
trimming each dread
b
1
: causing great fear or anxiety
dread diseases
2
: inspiring awe
our dread king
Synonyms
Noun
Adjective
Examples of dread in a Sentence
Verb
He can't swim and dreads going in the water.
She dreaded making speeches in front of large audiences.
I dread the day I will have to leave my friends.
I dread the thought of moving next week.
I dread to think about what they might do next.
Noun
She has a dread of failure.
He lives with the constant dread of rejection.
She awaited her punishment with dread.
The news about the war fills me with dread.
They live in constant dread of another attack.
Adjective
every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenn Brice, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Like No Other Tinseltown’s inclination toward an action movie third-act TKO aside, insiders tell Deadline that dread over a possible Trump return to the Oval Office has become the only conversation anyone in the C-suites and West L.A. enclosures are having right now.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Steve Osler, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
New developments in generative AI have sparked existential dread in many film professionals, who fear that their jobs could someday be rendered obsolete.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
With a thrillingly rancid atmosphere, a dazzlingly intense lead performance, and chilling supporting turns from the likes of Sônia Braga and Bill Nighy, the film simultaneously achieves a constant sense of dread and thoughtful meditation on faith and doubt.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dread 
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Verb
The rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence and deep-fake technologies had many dreading the year of the AI election.
—Jenn Brice, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Like No Other Tinseltown’s inclination toward an action movie third-act TKO aside, insiders tell Deadline that dread over a possible Trump return to the Oval Office has become the only conversation anyone in the C-suites and West L.A. enclosures are having right now.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Mondays used to fill many of us with dread at the thought of returning to a rigid office environment.
—Steve Osler, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
New developments in generative AI have sparked existential dread in many film professionals, who fear that their jobs could someday be rendered obsolete.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Durin the Elder, faced with this dread nightmare, realizes he’s been deceived and takes off the Ring.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
With a thrillingly rancid atmosphere, a dazzlingly intense lead performance, and chilling supporting turns from the likes of Sônia Braga and Bill Nighy, the film simultaneously achieves a constant sense of dread and thoughtful meditation on faith and doubt.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dread
Dictionary Entries Near dread
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dread. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dread
1 of 3 verb1
: to fear greatly
2
: to be very unwilling to meet or face
dread
2 of 3 noun1
a
: great fear especially in the face of approaching harm
b
archaic
: awe entry 1
2
: one causing fear or awe
dread
3 of 3 adjective
: causing great fear or anxiety
a dread disease
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