as in terrifying
causing fear
every ship on the Spanish Main was terrified of running into the dread pirate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dread
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The news Crystal Palace had been dreading was delivered mid-afternoon on Friday.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Craig Grannell, Wired News, 27 June 2025
Seasonal menu rotations prevent the monotony frequent flyers dread, while consistently fresh ingredients elevate even the simplest dishes.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 June 2025
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Suddenly, a man in the crowd with floor-length dreads who was headbanging to the music got his dreads stuck in a ceiling fan.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Adjective
Instead of dreading Monday, try giving yourself something small to look forward to.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The news Crystal Palace had been dreading was delivered mid-afternoon on Friday.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Noun
For decades, the Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD to its friends, has instilled a mix of panic, dread, exasperation, and rage across countless Windows users.
—Craig Grannell, Wired News, 27 June 2025
Seasonal menu rotations prevent the monotony frequent flyers dread, while consistently fresh ingredients elevate even the simplest dishes.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 June 2025
Verb
But for a growing legion of the ink-curious in Austin, the day of delightful dread includes dirt-cheap designs.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Suddenly, a man in the crowd with floor-length dreads who was headbanging to the music got his dreads stuck in a ceiling fan.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dread
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dread
Adjective
-
But a week later, what had been named the Dragon Bravo Fire hit a patch of fuel and took on a terrifying character in new gusts of wind, surrounding overwhelmed firefighters on a helipad and heading with unstoppable force to the south.—
Tom Zoellner,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
-
As global anxiety builds, Luna must face not just the predator in the desert but the terrifying possibility that humanity’s end is hurtling toward them from the stars.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Panicked finds Maron returning to familiar subjects, treating them like beloved worry dolls of comedic setups.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Some lawmakers have said worries over U.S. stockpiles running low don't justify cutting off Ukraine's weapons.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Concerns of fear growing in migrant communities Mora said this issue runs deep for him and others who work in immigration law.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
23 July 2025
-
Lean Into Peer Support A mental obstacle holding leaders back is avoiding support or peer groups out of fear of sharing ideas.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Sami Al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who is associated with the Gaza Tribunal, admitted to conspiring to aid the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in 2006.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
12 July 2025
-
Gaza would be razed, much like Dresden or Hiroshima, in order to eliminate the danger of terror attacks on Israel coming from Gaza.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
One of the most effectively frightening gags in the movie is little more than an actor in ghoulish makeup tunneling under a bedsheet.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 July 2025
-
And frightening, even to the leaders around Xi Jinping in Beijing.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Driving this new trend, brokers and builders agree, is a potent mix of global anxiety and cultural influence.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 July 2025
-
Here are seven alternative activities to try that experts say can be just as effective: Research shows that expressive art therapy, like painting, may help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem, and improve mood by engaging areas of the brain that promote calm.—
Noma Nazish,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Climate change, poverty, the savaged middle class, plagues and the rise of A.I. need to be faced now with far more vigor than when they were first realized back in my youth.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
16 July 2025
-
What’s the difference between bubonic and pneumonic plague?—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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The scary thing about Jefferson's injury is that he was also kept out of multiple games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
-
Recognizing the attraction people have to scary films, the band hit on the novel idea to translate the morbid thrill of Grand Guignol to rock ‘n roll.—
Jim Farber,
Billboard,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dread.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dread. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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