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Synonyms

dreading

American  
[dred-ing] / ˈdrɛd ɪŋ /

verb

  1. the present participle of dread.

Etymology

Origin of dreading

dread + -ing 2

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.

The couple is among thousands of immigrant parents hiding in their homes in Minneapolis, dreading that federal agents will come knocking.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

“We were dreading this. But unfortunately, I personally thought it’s a matter of when, not if.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

The scene everyone is dreading and/or waiting for doesn’t exist, so what exists in its place?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

I was dreading that as much as I had dreaded getting scammed.

From Slate • Aug. 4, 2025

I smile, because I'm relieved that she didn't ask the question I've been dreading since we got here.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.