foster fear

USAGE SUMMARY

"foster fear" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to encourage or promote the feeling of fear. Example: The government's constant warnings about potential terrorist threats only serve to foster fear among the citizens.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Indeed, the profiling of Arabs has only served to marginalize the Arab community and foster fear among its members and their neighbors.

The New York Times

Far from saving Israel from itself, as Gordon wants, it will be a gift to the right wing who will trade on it to foster fear.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hysterical opponents seek to foster fear that will spiral toward blind panic.

Huffington Post

And yet, in every disaster, we are confronted with abuses of power that foster fear and remove or violate the rights of the victims.

Huffington Post

In his sermon, Giglio says that his words are "not intended to be a homophobic attack to those who are in a homosexual lifestyle that would maybe foster fear or intolerance in our lives".

Huffington Post

Our results suggest…that the information routinely given in schools that is, grades may encourage an emphasis on quantitative aspects of learning, depress creativity, foster fear of failure, and undermine interest.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Whether his motives include fostering fear to justify greater executive power or intimidating certain American communities, they undermine American values.

The New Yorker

The corrosive thing about competition is that it fosters fear of failure, which has to be countered.

The Guardian - Opinion

The chilling impact of this campaign on Muslims in Britain is obvious enough, just as it fosters fear and prejudice in the non-Muslim population.

The Guardian - Opinion

It fosters fear and mistrust.

Huffington Post

But in fostering fear, paranoia, xenophobia, and conspiracism among the population, the man also does tangible harm.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foster fear" when you want to emphasize the active role someone or something plays in creating or strengthening feelings of fear within a group or individual.

Common error

Avoid using "foster fear" interchangeably with expressions that imply a natural or spontaneous emergence of fear. "Fostering" implies a degree of intentionality or active influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foster fear" primarily functions as a verb-noun collocation, where 'foster' acts as a transitive verb taking 'fear' as its direct object. It describes the action of encouraging or promoting feelings of fear, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foster fear" is a grammatically correct and relatively uncommon phrase used to describe the act of encouraging or promoting feelings of fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-formed and usable. Its primary function is to highlight the deliberate or inadvertent amplification of fear in diverse contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific discussions. While neutral in register, it's important to use it accurately, avoiding interchangeability with terms that imply a spontaneous rise of fear. Alternative phrases, such as "instill fear" or "promote fear", offer subtle differences in meaning. The phrase's usage, although not very common, can be found in authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Huffington Post, with News & Media being its most frequent context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instill fear

Focuses on implanting fear within someone or a group.

promote fear

Highlights the act of advocating or popularizing fear.

encourage fear

Emphasizes the act of giving support to fear.

incite fear

Suggests a more active and deliberate stirring up of fear.

generate fear

Focuses on the creation or production of fear.

cultivate fear

Implies a gradual and intentional development of fear.

breed fear

Highlights the idea of fear multiplying or spreading.

spark fear

Suggests a sudden and intense beginning of fear.

fuel fear

Emphasizes adding to or intensifying existing fear.

whip up fear

Implies actively stirring up or agitating fear in a group.

FAQs

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

You can use "foster fear" to describe actions or situations that encourage or promote feelings of fear. For instance, "The media's coverage of the event tended to foster fear among the public."

What are some alternatives to "foster fear"?

Alternatives include "instill fear", "promote fear", or "encourage fear", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "foster fear in" someone?

Yes, you can use "foster fear in" someone, but it's often more direct and impactful to say "foster fear" without specifying the recipient, especially when the fear is widespread.

What is the difference between "foster fear" and "create fear"?

"Create fear" implies generating fear from nothing, while "foster fear" suggests nurturing or strengthening existing feelings of fear. Thus, "create fear" is about generating something completely new, and "foster fear" is about reinforcing something that is already there.