fear of recrimination

USAGE SUMMARY

"fear of recrimination" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express the fear of suffering consequences or being punished for something. For example: "The student admitted the truth, but feared recrimination from his teacher."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

They want to form unions in order to negotiate higher wages without fear of recrimination.

The Guardian

The health minister said the authorities in Bosobe were looking for the priest who had fled for fear of recrimination.

The New York Times

Other women are contacting me to ask how they can call out sexism without fear of recrimination.

The Guardian - Opinion

I tolerate your right to be open about who you love without fear of recrimination from neighbours, employers, or churches.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the BITC research, respondents again and again pointed out the fear of recrimination if they spoke out.

The Guardian

Had you met her, you might have been afraid to look her in the eye, for fear of recrimination: the world had failed her early on.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

He asked to remain anonymous for fear of recriminations from his bosses.

The Guardian - Business

"Professor Chen is really unlucky," said a male student named Wu, who asked not to be further identified for fear of recriminations.

The New York Times - Tech

One journalist called the decision "scandalous" but no one would go on the record with their concerns for fear of recriminations.

The Guardian

The owner of the red-top phoned the News International chief executive Tom Mockridge from New York on Thursday amid suggestions that The Sun and other papers did not carry the photos for fear of recriminations in the Leveson report.

Independent

Another Rohingya refugee, currently held in Port Moresby ahead of a slated return to Myanmar, spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity for fear of recriminations against himself and his family.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics like whistleblowing or reporting misconduct, use "fear of recrimination" to highlight the potential negative consequences that deter individuals from speaking out.

Common error

Avoid using "fear of recrimination" when the apprehension is unfounded or based on irrational beliefs. Ensure there's a reasonable basis for the fear, such as a history of retaliation or a culture of suppressing dissent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fear of recrimination" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as the object of a preposition or verb. It describes the state of being afraid of potential negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fear of recrimination" effectively conveys the apprehension of negative consequences, often deterring individuals from certain actions. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression across diverse contexts. Occurring frequently in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business settings, the phrase suggests a Neutral register. Alternatives like "apprehension of reprisal" or "dread of retaliation" offer subtle variations in meaning. When using this phrase, ensure that the fear is reasonably based and avoid confusing it with unfounded paranoia. By understanding its nuances and applications, you can effectively communicate the impact of potential negative repercussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehension of reprisal

Replaces "fear" with "apprehension" and "recrimination" with "reprisal", both indicating a similar concern about negative consequences.

dread of retaliation

Uses "dread" instead of "fear" to emphasize the intensity of the feeling and replaces "recrimination" with "retaliation", focusing on revenge.

concern about repercussions

Substitutes "fear" with "concern" to soften the emotional tone and replaces "recrimination" with "repercussions", highlighting the after-effects.

worry about retribution

Employs "worry" for "fear", lessening the intensity, and uses "retribution" instead of "recrimination", stressing punishment.

anxiety over payback

Replaces "fear" with "anxiety", indicating a psychological state, and uses the more informal term "payback" for "recrimination".

unease about consequences

Uses "unease" to express a milder form of fear and substitutes "recrimination" with the broader term "consequences".

trepidation regarding vengeance

Replaces "fear" with "trepidation", indicating a more formal and intense feeling, and uses "vengeance" to stress revenge.

hesitation due to potential penalties

Focuses on the hesitance caused by the "fear", specifying "potential penalties" as the reason.

reluctance because of possible censure

Highlights the "reluctance" stemming from "fear", using "censure" to denote formal disapproval or criticism.

intimidation by threat of punishment

Emphasizes the "intimidation" aspect, specifying that it comes from the "threat of punishment", replacing "recrimination".

FAQs

What does "fear of recrimination" mean?

The phrase "fear of recrimination" refers to the apprehension of suffering negative consequences or punishment for one's actions, especially for speaking out against wrongdoing or expressing unpopular opinions.

How can I use "fear of recrimination" in a sentence?

You can use "fear of recrimination" to explain why someone is hesitant to do something. For example, "Employees are often unwilling to report safety violations due to "fear of recrimination" from their supervisors".

What are some alternatives to saying "fear of recrimination"?

Alternatives include "apprehension of reprisal", "dread of retaliation", or "concern about repercussions", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "fear of recrimination" the same as "fear of retaliation"?

While similar, "fear of recrimination" often implies a broader range of potential negative consequences, whereas "fear of retaliation" specifically suggests revenge or payback. Both phrases can be used depending on the specific context.