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View synonyms for

dread

[ dred ]

verb (used with object)

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

    to dread death.

    Antonyms:

  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: , ,

  2. held in awe or reverential fear.

dread

/ ɛ /

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 Word Forms

  • 𲹻·· adjective
  • 𲹻·Ա noun
  • ·𲹻 noun verb (used with object)
  • ܲ·𲹻· adjective
  • ܲ·𲹻·Բ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dread1

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English dreden (verb), Old English ǣ岹, aphetic variant of aǣ岹, DzԻǣ岹; cognate with Old High German Գٰٲ “to fear”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dread1

Old English DzԻǣ岹; related to Old Saxon Գٻ岹, Old High German Գٰٲ
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Synonym Study

See fear.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The sight of a suitcase has historically inspired dread in me.

From

There’s dread in the hoodoo mysticism that blues voices like Sammie’s have — voices with the power, like Orpheus, to unite the living and the dead.

From

Today’s tax filing deadline is usually a dreaded experience for taxpayers who have to dole out a big chunk of dough to the government.

From

This book is brutal and unsparing in its portrayal of its characters, with the growing dread palpable as the book drives forward, even as it’s incredibly big-hearted and leaves you emotionally eviscerated by the end.

From

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve also provides some hope in this global era of crisis, great anxiety and dread.

From

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D.R.E.dreadful