fear struck

USAGE SUMMARY

"fear struck" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in a passive context, to describe a feeling of fear or terror that has been inflicted upon someone, and it can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, "The sight of the stormy sky filled the children with fear struck awe".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I have a number of Muslim journalist peers who have fear struck into their hearts when asked to cover a "Muslim story" because that's not what they want labelled as their professional expertise.

The Guardian

In 726, less than a hundred years after the death of Mohammed, this fear struck Christianity with a vengeance.

Huffington Post

"If this is the Senate's idea of a bill with heart, then the women of America should have fear struck in theirs," Richards said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The fear strikes anywhere and everywhere.

The Guardian

Fear stricken, the Knicks tightened up their defense and ended the game on a 7-0 run.

The New York Times - Sports

When fear strikes, our bodies react by releasing a cocktail of chemicals and hormones into the bloodstream.

The Guardian

[Will fear strike out? Or, will fear strike U.S. out? We shall see on November 8.].

Huffington Post

But Americans know that any time a gun is fired on school grounds, fear strikes an entire community".

Huffington Post

They move us out of the past and beyond the present into the future - a future, to use baseball parlance, in which fear strikes out.

Huffington Post

Great fear strikes me when I think about the lucky ones who get a scholarship – I need this to make my dream career into a reality.

Huffington Post

"To Fellini" (1958), a quaking abstraction evocative of carnival joys and fears, strikes me as a supreme feat of sheer painterliness — existentialism à la Rubens.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fear struck" to vividly depict a moment where someone is suddenly and intensely overcome by fear, especially when describing a widespread reaction.

Common error

Avoid using "fear struck" actively (e.g., "He fear struck the enemy"). It's typically used passively to describe someone experiencing fear (e.g., "They were fear struck").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fear struck" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase indicating a state of being affected by sudden and intense fear. Ludwig confirms its usage to portray heightened emotional responses.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fear struck" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe a sudden and intense onset of fear. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and appropriate use in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts to vividly depict emotional responses. While not a very frequent phrase, it effectively conveys a sense of being overcome by terror. When using "fear struck", it's crucial to maintain a passive construction and ensure the context aligns with conveying a negative emotional state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stricken with fear

Reverses the order and uses a different preposition, emphasizing the state of being affected by fear.

overcome by fear

Highlights the overpowering nature of fear, suggesting a loss of control.

gripped by fear

Implies a sudden and forceful onset of fear, seizing control of the individual.

filled with terror

Substitutes "fear" with "terror", intensifying the emotion being described.

consumed by dread

Replaces "fear" with "dread", emphasizing a sense of impending doom and anxiety.

paralyzed by fear

Focuses on the immobilizing effect of fear, suggesting an inability to act.

intimidated

A simpler, more direct way of saying someone is made fearful by another.

frightened

A basic synonym, indicating a state of alarm or apprehension.

scared stiff

An idiom expressing extreme fear, often leading to immobility.

apprehensive

Suggests a more mild and anticipatory form of fear or anxiety.

FAQs

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

You can use "fear struck" to describe someone or a group of people who are suddenly overcome by fear. For example, "The villagers were "fear struck" by the approaching storm."

What are some alternatives to "fear struck"?

Alternatives include "stricken with fear", "overcome by fear", or "gripped by fear", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "fear struck" the same as "fear stricken"?

While similar, "fear struck" emphasizes the sudden onset of fear, while "fear stricken" focuses more on the state of being affected by fear. Both are grammatically correct, but "fear stricken" might be slightly more common.

Can "fear struck" be used in a positive context?

No, "fear struck" is almost exclusively used in negative contexts to describe a state of intense fear or terror. There is no common or logical usage of ""fear struck"" in positive contexts.