encouraged fear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encouraged fear" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one is discussing the promotion or instigation of fear in others, often in a psychological or social context. Example: "The leader's rhetoric often encouraged fear among the populace, leading to widespread panic and unrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

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

Arbitrary and brutal punishments encouraged fear rather than loyalty.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Now banks and blue-chip technology stocks are almost as vulnerable as the old-economy shares unloaded in the earlier rush to grab shares in the new economy.Some commentators have encouraged fears about the economic impact of another crash on the scale of Black Monday in 1987 and even a repeat of the Wall Street crash.

The Economist

The sharp drop in share values on November 16th was triggered by a pessimistic assessment of some semiconductor companies from a Wall St analyst.Some commentators have encouraged fears about the economic impact of another crash on the scale of Black Monday in 1987 and even a repeat of the Wall Street crash.

The Economist

England's first-day collapse to 102 had encouraged fears the sides would arrive in London all-square at 1-1, but events yesterday went far beyond that, casting doubt on England's ability to turn things round in the final Test.

The Guardian - Sport

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

"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

"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

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encouraged fear" when highlighting how actions or rhetoric have contributed to an increase or spread of fear. Ensure clarity by specifying who is encouraging the fear and who is experiencing it.

Common error

Avoid implying that a single action definitively caused widespread fear. Instead, acknowledge the complexity of factors contributing to feelings of fear. Vague statements may weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encouraged fear" functions as a verb phrase with a noun. The verb "encouraged" describes the action of promoting or instigating something, and the noun "fear" is the object being acted upon. As noted by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encouraged fear" is a grammatically sound construction used to describe the instigation or promotion of fear. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is generally correct and can be used in written English. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears across various contexts, including news media and scientific publications. When using this phrase, it's essential to clearly attribute the cause of fear and avoid overstating the impact of any single event. Alternatives like "fostered fear" or "instilled fear" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fostered fear

Replaces "encouraged" with "fostered", emphasizing nurturing or development of fear.

instilled fear

Substitutes "encouraged" with "instilled", highlighting the act of implanting fear.

promoted fear

Replaces "encouraged" with "promoted", focusing on the active advancement of fear.

incited fear

Uses "incited" instead of "encouraged", implying a stronger sense of stirring up or provoking fear.

stoked fear

Replaces "encouraged" with "stoked", suggesting the act of intensifying or fueling fear.

cultivated fear

Substitutes "encouraged" with "cultivated", emphasizing the gradual development and growth of fear.

exacerbated fear

Replaces "encouraged" with "exacerbated", indicating a worsening or intensifying of existing fear.

fueled fear

Uses "fueled" instead of "encouraged", highlighting the act of providing impetus to fear.

triggered fear

Replaces "encouraged" with "triggered", suggesting the causing of a sudden outburst of fear.

nurtured fear

Substitutes "encouraged" with "nurtured", implying the act of carefully fostering and developing fear.

FAQs

What does "encouraged fear" mean?

The phrase "encouraged fear" suggests that certain actions, statements, or circumstances have contributed to the increase or spread of fear among a group of people or within a specific context.

What can I say instead of "encouraged fear"?

You can use alternatives like "fostered fear", "instilled fear", or "promoted fear", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "encouraged fear" grammatically correct?

Yes, "encouraged fear" is grammatically correct. "Encouraged" functions as a verb in the past tense, and "fear" acts as a noun, making the phrase a standard verb-noun construction.

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

Example: "The politician's divisive rhetoric encouraged fear among minority communities." This sentence shows how specific rhetoric contributed to increased fear within a particular group.