activate fear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "activate fear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to describe the act of instilling or provoking fear in someone or something. Example: "The horror movie was designed to activate fear in its audience, keeping them on the edge of their seats."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you train your mind to be more lenient with what is perceived as strange or dangerous, the body will no longer activate fear or it will at least feel less extreme.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But they activate fears by association that are worth thinking far more seriously about how to defuse.

Huffington Post

"Research shows that activating fear and anxiety, in a safe place, is the only thing that makes it go away".

Vice

"Research shows that activating fear and anxiety, in a safe place, is the only thing that makes it go away". Rizzo. Rizzo

Vice

Even more unsettlingly, the researchers also found that naturally occurring serotonin might play a role in activating fear systems as well.

Vice

Long, smooth rewarding exhalations are the first, go-to practice when working with anxiety; long exhalations relax that vagal-vagus nerve, which sends messages to the midbrain, via what's called the insula, essentially telling the amygdala which activates fear: "Everything's okay, I'm safe".

Huffington Post

Although most violent episodes do not result in serious physical injury, threats and violence are frightening events, and may have long-term psychological consequences, such as easily activated fear of recurring violence [ 54] and post-traumatic stress disorder.

BMC Public Health

In line with the information-processing model of sexual arousal (Janssen et al., 2000; Laan & Janssen, 2007), it can be assumed that, in women with superficial dyspareunia, the prospect of penile vaginal intercourse automatically activates fear-related associations and that this automatic activation of negative associations interferes with the development of sexual arousal.

Archives of Sexual Behavior

The app activates fears that are rooted not in logic but in magic: the lock of hair gives the sorcerer power over the maiden; once the manuscript brushes elbows with the public seating chart, it is revealed to the same set of prying eyes.

The New Yorker

Current views suggest that in women with superficial dyspareunia the prospect of penile vaginal intercourse automatically activates fear-related associations.

Archives of Sexual Behavior

One is that you actually activate the fear memory by having the person go into or imagine a fearful situation.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "activate fear" when you want to emphasize the triggering or initiation of a fear response, whether in a psychological, emotional, or physiological context.

Common error

While "activate fear" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "induce fear" or "elicit fear" in academic or professional writing to maintain a higher level of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "activate fear" functions as a verb phrase with a noun, describing the action of initiating or triggering a state of fear. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is used in contexts describing psychological or emotional responses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "activate fear" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes the process of initiating or triggering a fear response. Ludwig AI confirms its applicability in various contexts, primarily in news, media, and scientific discussions. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "induce fear" or "elicit fear" may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase effectively communicates how certain stimuli or situations can lead to the experience of fear, highlighting its importance in understanding psychological and physiological reactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

induce fear

Focuses on the act of causing fear, suggesting a direct influence.

trigger fear

Implies a stimulus that sets off a fear response.

elicit fear

Highlights drawing out a fear response from someone or something.

arouse fear

Suggests awakening or stirring up latent fear.

instill fear

Emphasizes planting fear deeply within someone.

spark fear

Indicates a sudden and often intense onset of fear.

generate fear

Focuses on creating or producing a feeling of fear.

provoke fear

Implies intentionally causing fear as a reaction.

stimulate fear

Highlights activating the fear response through external stimuli.

foster fear

Suggests nurturing or encouraging the growth of fear.

FAQs

What does "activate fear" mean?

The phrase "activate fear" means to trigger or initiate a feeling of fear in someone or something. It suggests causing a fear response to become active.

How can I use "activate fear" in a sentence?

You can use "activate fear" to describe how certain stimuli or situations can trigger a fear response. For example, "The sudden loud noise was designed to activate fear in the test subjects".

What are some alternatives to "activate fear"?

You can use alternatives like "induce fear", "trigger fear", or "elicit fear" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "activate fear" a scientifically accurate term?

While "activate fear" is not a highly technical scientific term, it can be used to describe the process of stimulating the fear response in the brain, particularly in discussions about psychology or neuroscience. More formal terms might be used in scientific publications.