Definition of trepidationnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trepidation distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of trepidation are alarm, dread, fear, fright, panic, and terror. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

When would alarm be a good substitute for trepidation?

While the synonyms alarm and trepidation are close in meaning, alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

Where would dread be a reasonable alternative to trepidation?

The words dread and trepidation can be used in similar contexts, but dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When might fear be a better fit than trepidation?

The meanings of fear and trepidation largely overlap; however, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

When could fright be used to replace trepidation?

Although the words fright and trepidation have much in common, fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

When is panic a more appropriate choice than trepidation?

The synonyms panic and trepidation are sometimes interchangeable, but panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When is it sensible to use terror instead of trepidation?

The words terror and trepidation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trepidation Corporate America comes by its trepidation honestly. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026 Macron's reluctance to be involved could be a sign of broader trepidation. Zac Anderson, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026 Crypto’s move into core state finance and budgeting In addition to the concept of reserve funds, states are bringing crypto into core finance functions, with an approach that balances the inherent trepidation of venturing into new terrain with a desire to be a part of the fast-moving crypto realm. Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2026 Diana, too, had trepidations about marrying Charles ahead of their wedding on July 29, 1981. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trepidation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trepidation
Noun
  • The killings of Good and Pretti sparked further fear and backlash.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Twelve years after an NFL game was first shown on television in a period of fear of war and triumph in war, the championship game itself was broadcast across the country for the first time.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Our cousins just over the border in Wisconsin kept up a steady stream of taunts, trash-talking the Bears and causing us all a lot of anxiety as the minutes ticked by.
    Erendira Rendon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Experts say exercise during pregnancy and after birth can help lower anxiety, improve sleep, and boost your mood.
    Hannah Silverman, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In its worst forms, paranoia is a misapplication of the tools of attention, devotion, and care, scuttled by dread, the oppression of the unknown, and a lack of support.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trepidation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trepidation. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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