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View synonyms for dread

dread

[ dred ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of:

    to dread death.

    Antonyms: welcome

  2. to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience:

    I dread going to big parties.

  3. Archaic. to hold in respectful awe.


verb (used without object)

  1. to be in great fear.

noun

  1. terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.
  2. a person or thing dreaded.
  3. dreads, Informal. dreadlocks.
  4. Informal. a person who wears dreadlocks.
  5. Archaic. deep awe or reverence.

adjective

  1. greatly feared; frightful; terrible.

    Synonyms: horrible, dreadful, dire

  2. held in awe or reverential fear.

dread

/ drɛd /

verb

  1. to anticipate with apprehension or terror
  2. to fear greatly
  3. archaic.
    to be in awe of
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. great fear; horror
  2. an object of terror
  3. slang.
    a Rastafarian
  4. archaic.
    deep reverence
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. literary.
    awesome; awe-inspiring
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • dread·a·ble adjective
  • dread·ness noun
  • pre·dread noun verb (used with object)
  • un·dread·ed adjective
  • un·dread·ing adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dread1

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English dreden (verb), Old English drǣdan, aphetic variant of adrǣdan, ondrǣdan; cognate with Old High German intrātan “to fear”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dread1

Old English ondrǣdan; related to Old Saxon antdrādan, Old High German intrātan
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Synonym Study

See fear.
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Example Sentences

Prized for their efficiency — and dreaded for their overconfident drivers — these taxis are an essential part of mobility on the continent.

From Ozy

The best horror games build a sense of dread and vulnerability, and this moment from “Little Nightmares 2” captures those feelings perfectly, through unsettling sound design, Tim Burton-like art direction and a slow, gradual buildup to a scare.

As I mentioned, I have a son in ninth grade, and like so many, I’m kind of dreading the college-application process.

From Time

They raced down well-worn pathways of my brain, the ones that lead to dread and fear.

Most of us want to travel back home to Nigeria, and we have iPhones, we have dreads.

From Eater

The name that most Republicans seem both to expect and dread to consider running is Vito Fossella.

A few worries, to be sure, but not that cousin of depression and anxiety, dread.

Dread is the feeling I get when something bad seems to be on the way, and I know that there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

The specter of this virus fills some of our most stalwart souls with unreasoning dread even when it is no immediate threat.

People will testify they were cured of dread diseases when they prayed to Romero.

There is always in the background of my mind dread lest help should reach the enemy before we have done with Sedd-el-Bahr.

Before the dread significance of these things became clear, a bugle-call rang out.

Gray returned no answer, moving restlessly up and down before the door in a fever of excitement and dread.

It was evident that the dread of another period of prison life was strong upon the trembling wretch.

In one word, to the whole worship of God the soul that clings to His Covenant will cordially bind itself in his dread presence.

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D.R.E.dreadful