FEARING Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

fearing

verb

present participle of fear

as in worrying

to experience concern or anxiety her friends feared that she was dating a guy who was all wrong for her

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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 fearing Surging food and utility costs are squeezing thousands of izakayas across Japan, with experts fearing a record number of bankruptcies. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Alexander said Beloozerov didn’t sleep at home, fearing the FBI would pick him up. — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Autoworkers initially viewed EVs as an existential threat, fearing that simpler electric drivetrains would mean far fewer assembly jobs. — Jason Dressel, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Others rely on friends and family to go the supermarket, fearing they’ll be arrested by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Mauro and Giulio Sattaflora had exchanged a hesitant glance, fearing another stroke. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 Several speakers also alleged Lineage Logistics has not been forthcoming about what exactly burned in the warehouse with residents fearing that chemicals were among materials that fueled the flames and spread through the air. — City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 Despite growing up on a farm and initially fearing water, his girlfriend Carmen Mundt introduced him to boating, and team principal Toto Wolff to freediving. — Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Hollywood appears to be divided between those who are adamant that the merger will destroy a legacy studio while harming workers and others (including inside the companies) fearing a potentially worse fate if the deal is blocked. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fearing

worrying

Verb

The trick is to avoid second-guessing, worrying, griping or doing other things that waste time, according to Schore.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Unanswered emails can make people feel ignored or disrespected, or jump to worrying or envisioning worst-case scenarios, such as being on the brink of getting laid off or fired.

— Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of worrying

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fearfulness

fearing

fearless

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“Fearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fearing. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fearing

verb

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