driven by a fear of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driven by a fear of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe actions or motivations that are influenced by fear of a specific outcome or situation. Example: "Her decision to move to a new city was driven by a fear of remaining stagnant in her career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

But now he seems driven by a fear of defeat.

The New York Times

He said the view was partly driven by a fear of change.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Ciriaco said he was driven by a fear of failing during the weak economy.

The New York Times

Driven by a fear of losing out, many companies have announced AI-focused initiatives.

Harvard Business Review

Driven by a fear of losing out, companies in many industries have announced AI-focused initiatives.

Harvard Business Review

All the same, he is still driven by a fear of obscurity that he feels masks a fear of death.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Those sympathetic to the gamergate cause often frame the conversation as one about ethics in game media, but it's largely driven by a fear that intellectual criticism of the medium will result in a politically correct makeover of it.

Los Angeles Times

In a rare bit of bipartisanship, driven by a craven fear of being seen as soft on terrorists, both parties have lined up behind the indiscriminate surveillance sweeps, except for a few outliers on either end of the spectrum.

The New York Times

His regime's wartime ruthlessness was repellent yet at least comprehensible being largely driven by a justified fear of the terrorist Tigers' capacity for survival.

The Economist

His regime's wartime ruthlessness was at least largely driven by a justified fear of the terrorist Tigers' capacity for survival.

The Economist

From his tantrums over the Middle East to his invasion of Georgia and multiple misadventures in Ukraine, Mr Putin has sometimes seemed to stumble into accidental disputes with the West, driven by a paranoid fear of encirclement.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "driven by a fear of", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what action or decision is being motivated by the fear. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where the subject is unclear or hidden. Instead of "Mistakes were driven by a fear of failure", write "Employees made mistakes, driven by a fear of failure" to make the actors more explicit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by a fear of" functions as a causal prepositional phrase, indicating the reason or motivation behind an action or decision. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct. Ludwig examples showcase this usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "driven by a fear of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote motivation stemming from apprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and correct in written English. It is predominantly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When using the phrase, clarity is key to specify the agent of the fear and the action it motivates. Alternatives like "motivated by a concern for" or "influenced by a dread of" offer nuanced substitutes. Considering potential errors like passive voice overuse ensures more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by a concern for

Focuses on concern rather than fear as the driving emotion.

spurred by worry over

Highlights the worry that motivates the action.

prompted by anxiety about

Highlights the anxiety that leads to a specific action.

influenced by a dread of

Emphasizes the feeling of dread as the influencing factor.

moved by trepidation of

This alternative replaces 'fear' with 'trepidation' to denote anxiety.

actuated by apprehension regarding

Uses more formal vocabulary to express the underlying motivation.

guided by a sense of unease about

Emphasizes a general feeling of unease as the guiding factor.

driven by the prospect of

Focuses on a future possibility that motivates behavior.

compelled by a premonition of

Suggests a feeling of premonition is the driving force.

instigated by a feeling of panic toward

This alternative places stress on the immediate feelings of panic.

FAQs

How can I use "driven by a fear of" in a sentence?

You can use "driven by a fear of" to explain the motivation behind someone's actions. For example, "The company's decision to downsize was "driven by a fear of" bankruptcy".

What are some alternatives to "driven by a fear of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "motivated by a concern for", "prompted by anxiety about", or "influenced by a dread of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "motivated by fear of" instead of "driven by a fear of"?

Yes, "motivated by fear of" is a correct and often interchangeable alternative to "driven by a fear of". The choice depends on the desired tone and context.

What is the difference between "driven by a fear of" and "influenced by a fear of"?

"Driven by a fear of" suggests a more direct and compelling motivation, whereas "influenced by a fear of" implies a more moderate or indirect effect. "Driven by" indicates that fear is the primary motivator, while "influenced by" suggests it's one of several factors at play.