elicit fear

USAGE SUMMARY

'elicit fear' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something causes fear in someone. For example, "The sudden boom of thunder elicited fear in the children."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Mr. Banlue does not elicit fear.

The New York Times

They did not dominate, or decimate, or elicit fear across the league.

The New York Times - Sports

Since the scary holiday is a good excuse for television programmers to try to elicit fear, two ancestors of "Vampire Bats" are also being shown this week.

The New York Times

If you saw the abovementioned snake at a particular rock on the path of your walk, and are now at that spot, the rock may stand in for the snake and elicit fear, even though the snake itself is nowhere to be found.

The New York Times

On the other hand, as we are living in quite a large society in which altruistic punishment is effective, the eyes could elicit fear of punishment.

Evolution and Human Behavior

Conditioned fear is an artificial stress, induced by a stimulus, such as a tone, that does not elicit fear in nature.

Neuroscience Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Anecdotal reports and a few scientific publications suggest that flyovers of helicopters at low altitude may elicit fear- or anxiety-related behavioral reactions in grazing feral and farm animals.

BMC Veterinary Research

Traumatic memories may form via Pavlovian fear conditioning, whereby neutral environmental cues, or conditioned stimuli (CS), come to elicit fear- and anxiety-related behaviors, or conditioned fear responses (CR), due to their prior association with highly aversive cues, or unconditioned stimuli (US).

Depression and Anxiety

Pregnancy itself may be viewed as an acute stressor in a sense that it may elicit fears of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity particularly surrounding delivery and the forthcoming responsibility of providing for a child, a concept that has been referred to as pregnancy-related anxiety [ 47].

BioMed Research International

That is, when an activity elicits fear, disgust, or other preconceived negative associations, we are quick to assume it provides little benefit.

The New Yorker

A proposed government tribunal to adjudicate complaints against the news media has elicited fear among journalists that it could be used to muzzle them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elicit fear" to describe situations where something provokes a sense of dread, anxiety, or terror. For example, "The horror movie aimed to elicit fear in the audience."

Common error

Avoid using "elicit" to describe positive emotions. "Elicit" is typically used for responses like fear, anger, or concern. Using it with joy or happiness can sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elicit fear" functions as a verb phrase where "elicit" (verb) indicates the action of evoking or drawing out, and "fear" (noun) is the direct object representing the emotion being evoked. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase suggests causing fear in someone or something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

27%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elicit fear" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the action of causing fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate across diverse contexts, from scientific literature to news reports. While alternatives like "provoke fear" or "arouse fear" exist, "elicit fear" remains a clear and versatile choice for conveying the evocation of fear. Remember to reserve its usage for stimuli that genuinely provoke a sense of dread or anxiety to avoid misapplication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provoke fear

Replaces "elicit" with "provoke", emphasizing a more direct causation of fear.

arouse fear

Substitutes "elicit" with "arouse", highlighting the stirring up of fear.

generate fear

Uses "generate" instead of "elicit", focusing on the creation of fear.

induce fear

Replaces "elicit" with "induce", suggesting a more controlled causation of fear.

instill fear

Swaps "elicit" with "instill", emphasizing the implanting of fear into someone.

stir up fear

Replaces "elicit" with "stir up", highlighting a more active and intentional rousing of fear.

create fear

Uses "create" instead of "elicit", focusing on the formation of fear.

foster fear

Substitutes "elicit" with "foster", suggesting the encouraging of fear.

cause fear

A simpler, more direct alternative using "cause" instead of "elicit".

bring about fear

Replaces "elicit" with "bring about", implying the causing of fear as a consequence.

FAQs

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

Use "elicit fear" to describe something that causes a feeling of fear. For example, "The politician's speech was designed to "elicit fear" among voters about the opposing party's policies."

What are some alternatives to "elicit fear"?

You can use alternatives like "provoke fear", "arouse fear", or "generate fear" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "elicit fear" in formal writing?

Yes, "elicit fear" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and concise way to describe something that causes fear, and it's commonly used in news, academic papers, and professional documents.

What is the difference between "elicit fear" and "create fear"?

"Elicit fear" suggests that the potential for fear already exists, and something is triggering it. "Create fear" implies a more active and deliberate construction of fear where it may not have previously existed.