fearing

VERB

feel alarm; be scared of

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 afraid 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

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.

As an H-1B visa holder, he felt nervous leaving the U.S., fearing he would not be able to get back in.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

West Ham celebrated, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta turned away with his head in his hands fearing a vital win had slipped through their fingers with only seconds left - then the protests began.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

Columbia and New York University became hot schools once parents stopped fearing urban crime.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Ashouri, a U.S. citizen, spent her childhood frequenting businesses in Westwood, but she no longer feels comfortable there, fearing some sort of altercation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

We posted Olakunde as a guard with him, saying he should not be safe alone; though in truth fearing that he sought an occasion to flee us.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson