fear prevailed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fear prevailed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where fear has taken over or dominated the thoughts or actions of individuals or a group. Example: "In the face of uncertainty, fear prevailed, causing many to hesitate in their decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Elsewhere in Abidjan, fear prevailed over anger.

The New York Times

Always the fear prevailed that we would lose the farm.

The New Yorker

In the Sunni quarters on Sunday, despair, anger and fear prevailed.

The New York Times

When we heard the news about lifting the death penalty moratorium in December 2014, fear prevailed throughout the cells of the prison here.

The Guardian - Opinion

Humanitarian workers had been frequently threatened, and a climate of fear prevailed.

Los Angeles Times

Sadly, homophobia and fear prevailed on election day and the non-discrimination ordinance was repealed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And feelings of loss, disconnection and fear prevail.

The New York Times - Arts

Sad for our country if that fear prevails in Congress.

The New York Times

If fear prevails, we will see a re-nationalization of European politics.

The New York Times

However, if selfishness and fear prevail, we risk losing the noble idea underpinning the European project.

The Guardian - Opinion

"In some settings, fear prevails among subsets of women and providers, driving increased and inappropriate intervention".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fear prevailed" to describe scenarios where fear is not just present, but actively influences actions or decisions. For example, "Despite the evidence, fear prevailed, leading to a hasty retreat."

Common error

Avoid using "fear prevailed" simply to state that people were afraid. Ensure the sentence clarifies that the fear directly impacted the outcome or behavior, not just existed as an emotion. For example, instead of "People were afraid; fear prevailed", consider "People were afraid, and that fear prevailed over reason."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fear prevailed" functions as a concise expression to indicate that fear was the dominant influence or emotion in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples where fear overrides other considerations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fear prevailed" is a grammatically sound and contextually appropriate expression used to denote that fear was the dominant force in a situation. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples primarily sourced from news and media outlets. While not exceptionally common, it effectively communicates the significant influence of fear on outcomes or decisions. Alternative phrases, such as "fear dominated" or "fear took hold", offer similar nuances. When employing this phrase, ensure that the sentence clearly illustrates how fear shaped the described events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fear dominated

Replaces "prevailed" with "dominated", emphasizing the controlling aspect of fear.

fear was rampant

Substitutes "prevailed" with "was rampant", suggesting widespread and uncontrolled fear.

fear took hold

Replaces "prevailed" with "took hold", indicating that fear began to control the situation.

fear reigned

Changes "prevailed" to "reigned", implying that fear had a controlling influence.

fear became dominant

Replaces "prevailed" with "became dominant", highlighting the controlling nature of fear.

a climate of fear emerged

Shifts the structure to describe the emergence of a "climate of fear".

panic set in

Uses "panic set in" to describe a situation where panic began to control.

terror gripped the area

Employs "terror gripped the area" to suggest widespread fear and terror.

anxiety took over

Expresses the idea that anxiety assumed control in a situation.

apprehension grew

Indicates an increasing sense of apprehension or worry.

FAQs

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

Use "fear prevailed" to indicate that fear was the strongest influence in a situation, overriding other factors. For example, "Despite the reassurances, "fear prevailed", and the project was abandoned."

What are some alternatives to saying "fear prevailed"?

You can use alternatives like "fear dominated", "fear was rampant", or "fear took hold" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "fear prevails" instead of "fear prevailed"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but "fear prevails" is in the present tense, suggesting an ongoing situation, while ""fear prevailed"" is in the past tense, describing a situation where fear was dominant at a specific time.

What's the difference between "fear prevailed" and "fear was present"?

"Fear was present" simply indicates that fear existed. "Fear prevailed" means that fear was the most powerful factor, influencing decisions or outcomes.