plagued by fears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plagued by fears" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is constantly troubled or affected by their fears or anxieties. Example: "She was plagued by fears of failure, which held her back from pursuing her dreams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Euphoric at first, soon he was again plagued by fears.

The New Yorker

From the time he was a child growing up in Missouri and Colorado, he said he had been plagued by fears of his own homosexuality.

The New York Times

The announcement casts new doubt on the troubled elections, which have already been delayed for three years and are plagued by fears of fraud and security concerns.

The Washington Post

In what he termed the second phase of turbulence in the last quarter, Borio said markets were plagued by fears about the health of global banks and the Bank of Japan's shock decision to impose negative policy rates.

The Guardian - Business

Samuel (a hollow-cheeked Noah Wiseman) is plagued by fears of a monster, and exhibits his anxiety in the most antisocial ways imaginable (one of the more palatable being the home-made trebuchet he takes to school).

The Guardian - Film

The military commissions there have been plagued by fears of an FBI investigation that has probed a defense team.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

She discovered, however, that there was a class of people who simply felt good enough, who weren't plagued by fear or doubt.

The Guardian - Books

Eugene Andolsek, whose luminous, vividly colored abstract drawings are on view at American Primitive, was an office worker plagued by fear that he was about to be fired, although he never was.

The New York Times - Arts

Not it's Katty Kay, who says that 9/11 "produced an America that was plagued by fear and self doubt," and the era was bookended from the Le Monde headline "We Are All America" and a Newsweek headline, "Why do they hate us".

Huffington Post

At the same time, he's a neurotic plagued by obscure fears and little tics.

The New Yorker

This scheme has been plagued by contamination fears, cost overruns and resettlement difficulties that have left it several years behind schedule and unlikely to undercut desalination on price.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "plagued by fears", ensure that the context clearly identifies the source or nature of the fears to provide a more complete understanding for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "plagued by fears" in vague contexts. Always specify what types of fears are causing the trouble to give the phrase more impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plagued by fears" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the subject is persistently troubled or affected by anxieties. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "plagued by fears" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered expression used to describe a state of being persistently troubled by anxieties. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct and usable. While the phrase isn't exceedingly common, it appears frequently in news and media contexts, indicating its relevance in describing real-world anxieties impacting individuals, projects, or larger entities. To enhance clarity and impact, it's advisable to specify the nature of the fears when using this phrase. Alternatives like "beset by anxieties" or "haunted by anxieties" can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific communicative intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beset by anxieties

Focuses on the anxieties as the source of trouble, rather than specific fears.

troubled by anxieties

Similar to 'beset by anxieties', this highlights the disturbance caused by anxieties.

haunted by anxieties

This phrase emphasizes the persistent and intrusive nature of the anxieties.

burdened by anxieties

Emphasizes the weight and oppressiveness of anxieties.

tormented by anxieties

Suggests a more intense and painful experience of being affected by anxieties.

wracked with anxieties

Implies a violent or convulsive suffering caused by the anxieties.

consumed by anxieties

This alternative highlights the all-encompassing nature of the anxieties.

beset by worries

Focuses on the worries as the source of trouble, instead of fears.

hounded by insecurities

Focuses on the insecurities as the source of trouble, instead of fears.

gripped by apprehensions

Focuses on the apprehensions as the source of trouble, instead of fears.

FAQs

How can I use "plagued by fears" in a sentence?

You can use "plagued by fears" to describe someone or something that is constantly troubled by anxieties or specific fears. For example: "The project was plagued by fears of cost overruns."

What can I say instead of "plagued by fears"?

You can use alternatives like "beset by anxieties", "haunted by anxieties", or "burdened by anxieties" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "plagued by fear" or "plagued by fears"?

Both "plagued by fear" and "plagued by fears" are grammatically acceptable. "Plagued by fear" refers to a general state of fear, while "plagued by fears" suggests multiple, specific anxieties.

What's the nuance between "plagued by fears" and "gripped by apprehensions"?

"Plagued by fears" implies a constant state of being troubled, while "gripped by apprehensions" suggests a more sudden and intense onset of worry or anxiety.