as in terrifying
causing fear
every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dread
Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
After one broadcast ends, the shot foregrounds a telephone with his face in the back — there’s both anticipation and dread that ringing will soon shatter the silence.
—Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
Robert Lang, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2025
The face-off, which aired two months before Biden backed down, captures the feelings of dread at the time and heightens them to psychotic proportions.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 16 Jan. 2025
The world is about to end for Apolline, and that dread shades Pablo and Night’s own lives too.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dread 
Adjective
Shopping for a fun, maybe even educational toy, for a young child for Christmas should be packed with joy — not dread about what danger lurks ahead.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
After one broadcast ends, the shot foregrounds a telephone with his face in the back — there’s both anticipation and dread that ringing will soon shatter the silence.
—Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
Noun
Plagued by visions and an increasing sense of dread, Ellen encounters a force far beyond her control.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2025
The face-off, which aired two months before Biden backed down, captures the feelings of dread at the time and heightens them to psychotic proportions.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
Effective workouts should challenge you, but not to the point of dreading another one.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 16 Jan. 2025
The world is about to end for Apolline, and that dread shades Pablo and Night’s own lives too.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
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The stability and flexibility around Josh Allen makes for a terrifying formula.—
Derrik Klassen,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
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What’s more terrifying than losing control of your physical and mental self as your most primal, animalistic instincts take the wheel?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Washington does not share this worry, Zelenskyy claimed.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
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While markets often climb a wall of worry, this wall looks more like a cliff.—
Bob Haber,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But this progress was not inevitable; it was forged through struggle and the determination to rise above fear and division.—
John Hope Bryant,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
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Letting go of the fear now serves as an unspoken theme of Chickahominy.—
Tricia Despres,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Since the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, Canadian cities have been disgraced by anti-Semitic incidents of accelerating violence.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
15 Jan. 2025
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Fighting began in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a terror attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC News,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Listen to this article California’s blazing wildfires and last year’s destructive hurricanes in the Southeast are frightening examples of the dramatic impacts of climate change.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2025
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Coming full circle, the FBI also warned users to beware this frightening new threat in a special advisory last month.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The situation caused Campbell a lot of anxiety, but became a pivotal shift in her perspective.—
Kait Hanson,
Glamour,
18 Jan. 2025
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Then the widespread anxiety spurred by a wave of high-profile robberies and the deadly home-invasion of Jacqueline Avant.—
Gary Baum,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Save the mysterious realm from a spreading plague, form alliances, and defeat monsters in visceral combat.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PCMAG,
22 Jan. 2025
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The game will let players switch between first and third-person perspectives while investigating a mysterious plague in Eora as an envoy from the Aedyr Empire.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Coupled with the growth of Bills blockers, Allen’s scary run threat has unclogged rushing lanes for teammates such as running back James Cook, whose 16 rushing touchdowns led the NFL this season.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
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On top of all that, Carolina as an organization views cap space as an opportunity, not a scary thing.—
Pierre LeBrun,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dread
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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