encourage fear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encourage fear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something is promoting or instilling fear in others, often in discussions about behavior, leadership, or tactics. Example: "The government's decision to increase surveillance seemed to encourage fear among the citizens, leading to a climate of distrust."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Oh, I believe so we are in a really peculiar time in our country, where people are comfortable saying things about particular groups, and they encourage fear, and they encourage violence, and I want to challenge those ideas," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

You can have your wife plagiarize from Michelle Obama's speeches and blatantly lie to the public to encourage fear and hatred among the people.

Vice

Janet Mock talked about how to bathroom issue is being used as a wedge to distract people, encourage fear and intolerance, and push transfolk out of school, making them increasingly vulnerable.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Nestlé boss's comments will encourage fears that some of its best-loved products, such as Nescafé and KitKat, are also destined to rise in price.

The Guardian - Business

This would not be good in the near term for stocks, as it would encourage fears that the crisis might spread to Latin America and finally the United States.

The New York Times

This could encourage Tehran to restrict the funds earmarked for its allies, which though small compared to the money or weapons that Saudi Arabia distributes to counter Iranian influence in the Arab world, have been sufficient to encourage fears of Iranian power.

The Guardian

But the exact extent of what is forbidden is left deliberately unclear, and that vagueness encourages fear and self-censorship, many journalists here say.

The New York Times

The fault lies with artists and with the elevator industry itself, which has for a century and a half encouraged fear by focussing its marketing relentlessly on the question of safety, and with narratives that focus on rare exceptions of accidents and mechanical failures, like Nicholas White's experience of getting stuck.

The New Yorker

"The vacuum created encourages fear and speculation that could hinder a proportionate response or appropriate action," said NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby.

BBC

Pentecostal preaching has taken off of late as well, Ashforth said, with spiritual leaders encouraging fear of Satanic rituals.

Vice

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Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encourage fear", consider the ethical implications. Ensure that you are not unintentionally promoting harmful ideologies or behaviors.

Common error

Avoid using "encourage fear" when the intention is not to promote fear, but to acknowledge or address existing fears. Use more neutral language like "recognize fear" or "understand fear" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encourage fear" typically functions as a verb phrase where "encourage" acts as a transitive verb taking "fear" as its direct object. This indicates an action performed by someone or something that results in the promotion of fear. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, providing examples where the phrase is used to describe deliberate actions or unintentional consequences that lead to increased fear.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encourage fear" is used to describe situations where actions or words promote or foster fear. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase appears predominantly in "News & Media", as well as scientific contexts. Alternatives include "instill fear", "foment fear", and "promote fear", each with slightly different nuances. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to be mindful of the ethical implications and ensure that the intent is accurately conveyed, avoiding misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instill fear

Replaces "encourage" with "instill", focusing on the act of implanting fear.

foster fear

Replaces "encourage" with "foster", focusing on nurturing the fear

foment fear

Uses "foment" to suggest stirring up or promoting fear actively.

promote fear

Employs "promote" indicating the spreading or advancement of fear.

cultivate fear

Suggests a more gradual and deliberate development of fear.

incite fear

Highlights the action of provoking or urging fear.

generate fear

Focuses on the creation or production of fear.

exacerbate fear

Indicates the worsening or intensification of existing fears.

stoke fear

Suggests fueling or intensifying fear, often in a manipulative way.

spur fear

Implies prompting or stimulating fear.

FAQs

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

You can use "encourage fear" to describe situations where actions or words promote fear, such as "The politician's rhetoric seemed to "encourage fear" among the public".

What's a more neutral alternative to "encourage fear"?

If you want to express a similar idea without the negative connotation, consider using phrases like "raise awareness of" or "highlight the risks of".

Is "encourage fear" the same as "cause fear"?

"Encourage fear" implies a more active role in promoting or fostering fear, whereas "cause fear" simply indicates that something led to fear, regardless of intent.

What words are similar to "encourage" in the context of "encourage fear"?

Words like "foster", "instill", "promote", and "foment" are similar to "encourage" when discussing fear, each with slightly different nuances.