dread

15 synonyms and 1 antonym for dread, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To feel great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

fear terrible awful

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

dreaded horrific fearful frightening dire horrendous dreadful

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

apprehension foreboding apprehensiveness direful fearsome

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To feel great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen.

“She dreaded the phone call all afternoon.”

apprehension foreboding fear

Opposites

welcome

2. noun

A strong feeling of fear or anxiety about something.

“A sense of dread came over him as he opened the letter.”

apprehensiveness apprehension

3. adj

Causing great fear; dreaded (used mainly in older or literary English).

“The dread disease swept through the village.”

direful terrible awful dreaded horrific fearful fearsome frightening dire horrendous dreadful

How to use dread

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

dread the thought of a sense of dread live in dread

Etymology

From Old English ondrǣdan, "to fear," formed from and- (a prefix like "against") plus rǣdan, an early relative of "read" in the sense of "advise" or "counsel."

Full origin of dread →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dread” mean?

The word “dread” means to feel great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen. In plain terms, to be very afraid or anxious about something upcoming, or the fear itself.

How do you pronounce “dread”?

“Dread” is pronounced drehd (/dɹɛd/ in IPA).

How do you use “dread” in a sentence?

Here is “dread” used in a sentence: “She dreaded the phone call all afternoon.”

What part of speech is “dread”?

Depending on how it is used, “dread” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “dread” come from?

The word “dread” comes from Old English. From Old English ondrǣdan, "to fear," formed from and- (a prefix like "against") plus rǣdan, an early relative of "read" in the sense of "advise" or "counsel.".

Is “dread” a common word?

“Dread” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “dread” have?

“Dread” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to feel great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen.

What is the difference between "dread" and "fear"?

"Dread" specifically involves feeling great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen, often something anticipated in advance, such as dreading a difficult meeting. "Fear" is broader and can apply to immediate danger as well as anticipated events.

Can "dread" be used as an adjective, and is that common today?

Yes, "dread" can function as an adjective meaning causing great fear, as in "a dread disease," but this usage is mainly found in older or literary English rather than everyday modern speech. Today it is far more commonly used as a verb or noun.

Is "dread" usually about future events rather than the present?

Yes, "dread" typically describes fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen, which distinguishes it from words describing fear of something happening right now. This forward-looking quality is central to how the word is used.

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welcome fear terrible awful dire frightening dreadful horrific fearful horrendous dreaded apprehension

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