trepidation

[trep-i-dey-shuhn]

noun

1. tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.

   Synonyms: disquiet, apprehension, panic, alarm, fright, fear, dread, anxiety

2. Archaic.,  trembling or quivering movement; tremor.

trepidation

/ ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. a state of fear or anxiety

2. a condition of quaking or palpitation, esp one caused by anxiety

Other Word Forms

• trepidatious adjective
• trepidatiously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of trepidation¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin trepidātiōn- (stem of trepidātiō ), equivalent to trepidāt(us) (past participle of trepidāre “to hurry, panic, alarm” + -iōn- noun suffix; trepid, -ate ¹, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of trepidation¹

C17: from Latin trepidātiō , from trepidāre to be in a state of alarm; compare _intrepid

Example Sentences

"There's a lot of trepidation about where inflation is," he said.

Read more on BBC

Traders’ trepidation has sent Wall Street’s so-called fear guage—the Cboe Volatility Index—to some of its highest levels since April’s tariff announcements.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I ask the young men how they feel about the show ending and stepping into new projects, and Gaten is first to admit they feel some trepidation.

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Robbie watches every race at home, sometimes with so much trepidation he has to take a break and go for a walk.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said there was some trepidation about whether to allow journalists into the fire-ravaged area while authorities were still continuing their search for bodies of fire victims.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alarm 
• apprehension 
• consternation 
• dismay 
• disquiet 
• dread 
• excitement 
• fright 
• horror 
• jitters www.thesaurus.com
• nervousness 
• panic 
• terror 
• uneasiness www.thesaurus.com