grew fear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew fear" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone or something causes an increase in fear over time. Example: "As the storm approached, the townspeople grew fear about the potential damage it could cause."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But no one knew what that something else would be, and out of the change and the uncertainty and the wrongness of the leaders grew fear and desperation, and before long hunger stalked the streets.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Another is a growing fear of higher interest rates.

Independent

There is a growing fear of the future.

The Guardian - Opinion

The acquisition embodied a growing fear among American insurers.

The New York Times

What links all of the neighbors is their growing fear that the West will "lose Afghanistan".

The New York Times

There is a growing fear that whoever wins the leadership contest will face a split party.

The Economist

Her growing fear of deadlines made it hard to keep jobs.

The New Yorker

SIR Gripped by growing fear of climate change, America is now enamoured of all things green.

The Economist

"Underground" describes Assange's growing fear of arrest: "Mendax dreamed of police raids all the time.

The New Yorker

But there was growing fear that the Russian authorities would step up their action against protesters.

The Guardian

The growing fear of bioterrorism has renewed the question of whether Americans should be vaccinated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the less common phrase "grew fear", opt for more standard alternatives like "increased fear", "escalating fear", or "developing fear" to ensure clarity and naturalness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid directly translating emotional intensification into phrases like "grew fear" as it can sound awkward. Focus on using verbs and adjectives that naturally collocate with "fear" in English, such as "heightened" or "intensified".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew fear" functions as a verb-noun construction where "grew" attempts to modify "fear". Although understandable, this phrasing is not idiomatic in English. Ludwig AI suggests that it's better to use phrases like "increased fear" or "escalated fear" for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grew fear" is an uncommon and somewhat awkward way to express the intensification of fear. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically questionable and lacks idiomatic fluency. While the example found occurs in a news context, more standard alternatives such as "increased fear", "developing fear", or "mounting fear" are generally preferred for clearer and more natural communication. When writing, opting for these alternatives will improve clarity and ensure your message resonates effectively with readers. The phrase may be understood, but it will not be appreciated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increased fear

Replaces the verb "grew" with "increased", a more common and direct way to express the intensification of fear.

developing fear

Substitutes "grew" with "developing", highlighting the gradual emergence of fear.

mounting fear

Uses "mounting" to suggest an accumulating and intensifying sense of fear.

escalating fear

Replaces "grew" with "escalating", indicating a rapid and dramatic increase in fear.

rising fear

Uses "rising" to depict fear as something that is increasing in intensity or prominence.

spreading fear

Emphasizes the dissemination of fear among a population or group.

intensifying fear

Replaces "grew" with "intensifying" to emphasize increasing intensity of fear.

emerging fear

Focuses on the initial appearance or beginning of fear.

heightened fear

Uses "heightened" to suggest that the level of fear is now at its peak or a high point.

awakening fear

Implies a sudden realization or onset of fear.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "grew fear"?

More common alternatives include "increased fear", "escalating fear", or "developing fear". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "grew fear" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "grew fear" is not a standard or natural-sounding phrase in English. It's better to use more conventional phrasing for clarity and impact.

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

You might say, "The politician's divisive rhetoric increased fear among the immigrant community" or "As the storm worsened, increased fear gripped the coastal towns".

What's the difference between "increased fear" and "escalated fear"?

Increased fear suggests a general rise in fear, while "escalated fear" implies a more rapid and dramatic increase.