fear inducing

USAGE SUMMARY

"fear inducing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that causes fear or anxiety. An example: "The horror movie was particularly fear inducing." Alternative expressions include "fear provoking" and "fear eliciting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Still, simultaneous perception of a fearful body expression and a fear inducing dog bark can be perceived as one event, especially considered from an evolutionary perspective.

Brain Topography

Unfortunately, these fear inducing tactics are often successful.

Huffington Post

This article brings up some pretty fear inducing statistics for both farmers and non-farmers.

Huffington Post

Embrace person-to-person energy exchanges that warm the soul in light of such fear inducing moments.

Huffington Post

And who knows if on Monday a new fear inducing ad from a McCain support group won't take up another feature of Obama's biography?

Huffington Post

A leader's use of fear inducing strategies can be as much a sign of limited leadership capability as it is a sign of genuine and urgent crisis.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

On paper last year, Demps and Gibril Wilson looked like a fear-inducing tandem.

The New York Times - Sports

-- Judith Warner, "Marketing Disorder" Reader Comments: These ads are so deeply, deeply hurtful and fear-inducing.

The New York Times

Similar fear-inducing pessimism about bird flu, Aids, terrorism and climate change deaden us to real risks.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Conservatives ran a grossly misleading campaign at the last election, following Iain Duncan Smith's fear-inducing Breakdown Britain reports.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is absolutely natural that the uncertainty that surrounds the behavioural transformations of our evolving relationship with screen-based media is confusing and fear-inducing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation or event, use "fear inducing" to clearly communicate the feeling of fear it generates.

Common error

Avoid using "fear inducing" in overly casual or lighthearted situations where a simpler word like "scary" or "frightening" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fear inducing" functions primarily as a modifier, specifically an adjective phrase. It describes a noun by indicating its capacity to cause fear. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows examples where it modifies words like "tactics", "moments", and "stimuli".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fear inducing" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that causes fear. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. While its meaning is straightforward, alternatives like "frightening" or "terrifying" may be more appropriate in informal settings. Use "fear inducing" to clearly communicate the capacity of something to generate fear, but avoid overuse in overly casual situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inspiring fear

Reverses the word order while maintaining the core meaning.

causing fear

A more basic and direct way of expressing the same idea.

frightening

Single word adjective, generally interchangeable but slightly less formal.

alarming

Implies a sense of sudden danger or urgency, more specific than "fear inducing".

terrifying

Emphasizes extreme fear; a stronger intensity than "fear inducing".

intimidating

Focuses on the aspect of causing someone to feel small or threatened.

menacing

Suggests a looming threat or potential danger.

panic inducing

Specifically indicates something that causes panic.

horror inducing

Specifically induces horror and disgust, has a very specific emotional response.

apprehension inducing

More formal and emphasizes a feeling of unease or anxiety about the future.

FAQs

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

You can use "fear inducing" to describe something that causes fear. For example, "The abandoned house had a "fear inducing" atmosphere."

What are some alternatives to "fear inducing"?

Alternatives include "frightening", "terrifying", or "intimidating" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "fear inducing" formal or informal?

"Fear inducing" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for news articles, scientific writing, and professional communication. Simpler words might be preferred in informal contexts.

What is the difference between "fear inducing" and "causing fear"?

"Fear inducing" is a more concise and descriptive phrase, while "causing fear" is a more basic and direct way of expressing the same idea. They are largely interchangeable, but "fear inducing" often sounds more sophisticated.