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.

Fearing another police encounter, she says she left the hospital before being admitted and returned to her car, which was parked at the gateway to Althorp House - where Diana, Princess of Wales is buried.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Fearing the possibility of “potentially enormous judgments” should Boulder succeed, Suncor and Exxon again petitioned the Supreme Court to review the lower court decision in Boulder’s favor.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2026

Fearing harm to her family, Sage ran away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Fearing for her life, Mrie fled to Turkey, a country more welcoming than most to Syrian exiles, and starting working for a nongovernmental organization training civilian journalists.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Fearing what sudden thing he might do next, I watched him warily.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi