Must be afraid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Must be afraid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a belief or assumption about someone's emotional state, particularly fear. Example: "After hearing the news, she must be afraid of what might happen next."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

For there to be a war between us, first we must be afraid of each other, we must hate.

The New Yorker

He was still hovering over her with his gun, and it occurred to her that he must be afraid.

The New Yorker

And a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, Trent Duffy, said, "Jim McGreevey must be afraid of a fair fight, so he's running to court to block New Jerseyans from hearing the truth about his retread record".

The New York Times

Because when you are jailing an ailing 62-year-old democracy scholar from the American University in Cairo, whose biggest sin was that he was working to give some real meaning to Egypt's parliamentary elections, you really must be afraid of your own people and you really must want to terrify every other potential democracy advocate in your society.

The New York Times

Rahm must be afraid of democracy.

Huffington Post

It seems as if we must be afraid of life, itself, afraid of the human experience.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Finally, hotels, off-licences, taxi firms, takeaways, bouncers, and indeed all of us, must be more alert to suspicious behaviour and must not be afraid to speak up.

The Guardian - Opinion

While the diagnostician must not be afraid to find something novel, the finding must be real.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

We must build on recent successes and in doing so must not be afraid to learn the lessons from what we could have done better.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, for those moments of silence to work, the playwright must be attuned to what it is that his characters aren't saying, and he must not be afraid of damaging the play's pacing or diffusing the plot.

The New Yorker

We must not be afraid.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must be afraid" when you want to express a logical deduction or strong belief about someone's state of fear, based on the available evidence or context. It indicates a high degree of certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "must be afraid" to merely suggest a possibility of someone being afraid. "Might be afraid" or "could be afraid" are more appropriate when expressing uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be afraid" functions as an epistemic modal phrase, expressing a strong inference or logical deduction about someone's emotional state. This is based on available evidence or context, similar to examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be afraid" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that expresses a strong inference or logical deduction about someone's state of fear. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. While not extremely common, it appears primarily in News & Media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you are conveying a sense of strong belief based on available evidence, and avoid using it when simply suggesting a possibility. Alternatives like "must be scared" or "must be frightened" can offer slightly different nuances. Remember that, as underlined by Ludwig, this structure implies certainty, not just possibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must be scared

Replaces "afraid" with "scared", a more informal synonym.

must be frightened

Replaces "afraid" with "frightened", suggesting a higher degree of fear.

must feel fear

Emphasizes the feeling of fear directly.

must be apprehensive

Uses "apprehensive" to convey a sense of anxiety or unease.

must be worried

Focuses on the worry or concern aspect of fear.

must be anxious

Highlights the anxiety associated with the situation.

must be terrified

Indicates a very intense level of fear.

must be in fear

Rephrases to emphasize the state of being in fear.

must be dreading

Focuses on the anticipation of something frightening.

must be panicking

Suggests a state of uncontrolled fear and anxiety.

FAQs

What does "must be afraid" imply?

The phrase "must be afraid" suggests a strong deduction or logical conclusion that someone is experiencing fear, based on the circumstances.

When is it appropriate to use "must be afraid" in a sentence?

Use "must be afraid" when you have good reason to believe, based on the context, that someone is feeling fear. It's stronger than saying they might or could be afraid.

What are some alternatives to "must be afraid"?

You can use alternatives like "must be scared", "must be frightened", or "must feel fear" depending on the context and level of formality.

How does "must be afraid" differ from "might be afraid"?

"Must be afraid" indicates a higher degree of certainty and logical deduction, while "might be afraid" suggests a possibility or uncertainty about someone's fear.