Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

be afraid

VERB
anticipate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assume await count on forecast foresee prepare for see
STRONG
conjecture divine entertain figure foretell prognosticate prophesy suppose visualize wait
WEAK
bargain for count chickens cross the bridge foretaste have a hunch hope for jump the gun look for look forward to plan on prevision promise oneself see coming see in the cards wait for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
doubt
WEAK
be amazed be surprised be unready
VERB
assume
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept conclude consider estimate expect guess infer presume speculate suspect think understand
STRONG
ascertain conjecture deduce deem divine fancy find gather hypothesize imagine judge posit postulate predicate presuppose suppose surmise theorize
WEAK
be inclined to think count upon fall for get the idea have a hunch have sneaking suspicion
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abstain disbelieve discard disregard forget ignore misunderstand neglect reject
STRONG
calculate know prove
WEAK
doubt leave let alone not believe not do not take
VERB
conclude
Synonyms
STRONGEST
make
STRONG
adjudge analyze assume collect derive draw figure gather infer intuit judge presume ratiocinate reason reckon suppose surmise
WEAK
add up to boil down to have a hunch make out sum up the way one sees it
Antonyms
STRONG
disbelieve disperse distribute divide misunderstand scatter
WEAK
begin commence introduce preface start unsettle
VERB
deduce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deduct glean infer presuppose surmise
STRONG
analyze assume cogitate collect conceive conclude consider deem derive draw fancy figure gather imagine judge make presume ratiocinate reason regard
WEAK
add up boil down have a hunch make out read into take to mean
Antonyms
STRONG
destroy disbelieve disperse disregard distribute divide ignore leave misunderstand not believe reject scatter
VERB
deem
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allow assume believe expect feel presume suppose suspect
STRONG
account appraise calculate conceive conjecture credit divine esteem estimate guess hold imagine judge know reckon sense surmise think understand view
WEAK
daresay set store by
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disbelieve
STRONG
disregard forget ignore misinterpret mistrust misunderstand neglect
VERB
dread
Synonyms
STRONG
apprehend cringe fear quake shudder tremble
WEAK
have cold feet misdoubt shrink from
Antonyms
STRONG
steady
WEAK
encourage want welcome
VERB
expect
Synonyms
STRONGEST
await forecast foresee hope predict suppose take think
STRONG
apprehend assume calculate conjecture contemplate divine envisage feel figure foreknow gather imagine look presume presuppose reckon sense surmise suspect trust understand
WEAK
bargain for bargain on count on hope for in the cards look ahead to look for look forward to see coming wait for watch for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disbelieve
STRONG
disregard know misunderstand neglect overlook
VERB
fear
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anticipate avoid dread expect foresee shun suspect worry
STRONG
apprehend blanch cower crouch falter flinch fret quail quaver shrink shudder shy start tremble wilt
WEAK
be anxious be apprehensive be disquieted be frightened be in awe break out in a sweat dare not feel concern have butterflies have qualms lose courage
Antonyms
STRONGEST
face meet want
STRONG
calm steady stretch
WEAK
brave
VERB
posit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hypothesize postulate presuppose
STRONG
assume conceive conclude conjecture consider deem dream expect fancy feel gather imagine judge premise presume pretend reckon regard suspect take think understand view
WEAK
have a hunch have sneaking suspicion swear by take as gospel truth take stock in
Antonyms
STRONG
abstain be honest disbelieve disregard forget ignore know leave misunderstand neglect not believe reject
VERB
predict
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anticipate call conclude crystal-ball envision forecast foresee think
STRONG
adumbrate augur conjecture croak figure forebode foretell gather guess infer judge omen portend presage presume prognosticate prophesy read suppose surmise telegraph vaticinate
WEAK
call it crystal-ball divine figure out forespeak have a hunch hazard a guess make book psych out see coming see handwriting on wall size up soothsay
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignore
STRONG
calculate disbelieve measure misunderstand
VERB
presume
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assume count on guess infer pretend suppose surmise
STRONG
conclude conjecture consider depend figure gather posit postulate predicate premise presuppose rely speculate think trust
WEAK
bank on jump the gun take for granted take it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calculate disbelieve doubt measure
STRONG
disregard distrust forget ignore neglect
WEAK
abstain
VERB
suppose
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assume deem expect pretend think understand
STRONG
conceive conclude conjecture consider dream fancy feel gather hypothesize imagine judge postulate reckon regard suspect take view
WEAK
have a hunch have sneaking suspicion swear by take as gospel truth take stock in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disbelieve
STRONG
disregard ignore know misunderstand neglect reject
VERB
suspect
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assume believe consider doubt presume speculate think wonder
STRONG
conceive conclude conjecture disbelieve expect feel gather hold imagine mistrust reckon suppose surmise understand
WEAK
harbor suspicion have a hunch have doubt have sneaking suspicion hazard a guess smell a rat think probable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abstain disbelieve disregard forget ignore leave neglect
STRONG
know misunderstand trust

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Steve added that people should not be afraid to ask for support.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

"How could you not be afraid?" he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

Geneva Rajpute, who lives on the street where the shooting occurred, said she and neighbors “shouldn’t be afraid to go down the street” but that the shooting has left them shocked.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

Financial lessons from the nation’s history: embrace risks, don’t be afraid of debt, take in boarders if things get tight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

“Malaria is something to be afraid of. Not microbiomes.”

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training