promote fear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "promote fear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something is encouraging or instilling fear in others, often in discussions about media, politics, or social issues. Example: "The campaign was criticized for its tendency to promote fear among the population regarding the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"My dad was a gentle and peaceful man; his name should not be used to promote fear and exclusion".

The Guardian

Many in the west are rightly concerned that attacks such as the Paris killings promote fear among westerners, and usher in the chill of self-censorship.

The Guardian - Opinion

From the moment he took office it has suited his political agenda to promote fear, mainly of the UK turning into Greece, when the economic situation clearly needed a government that exuded confidence and optimism.

The Guardian - Business

"These threats are made to promote fear...

Los Angeles Times

Freedom Indiana, a pro-LGBT group, dismissed Tomes' bill, calling it a "scare tactic" intended to "promote fear over reality".

Los Angeles Times

How Sex Offender Laws Are Failing Us, criminologist Emily Horowitz argues that our draconian sex offender laws "promote fear, destroy lives, and fail to protect children".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The environmental movement managed to make much of this distrust, using it to promote fears of interfering with nature, whether through technology or industrial agriculture.

The New York Times

Azeem Khan, of the Islamic Circle of North America, said the bus adverts promoted fear and hatred.

The Guardian

But, while the show will never win a prize for encouraging Anglo-German cultural understanding, Cleese is comically depicting – rather than politically promoting – fear of "Fritz".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It also promotes fear conditioning, a form of learning in which previously neutral stimuli in the environment — sights, sounds and smells, for example — become linked with a trauma.

The New York Times

It throws immigrants into the black hole of deportation, endangers our safety by promoting fear of the police, and threatens to cost our state millions of dollars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "promote fear", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what is causing the fear and the intended audience. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your message.

Common error

Be specific about who or what is "promoting fear". Vague statements can weaken your argument and open it up to misinterpretation. Instead of saying "the media promotes fear", specify which media outlets and what specific tactics they use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "promote fear" functions primarily as a verb phrase + noun, where "promote" acts as a transitive verb taking "fear" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "promote fear" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes the act of encouraging or instilling fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable in written English and is frequently seen in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. The phrase carries a negative connotation and is used to criticize actions that deliberately or inadvertently increase fear. When using "promote fear", be sure to clearly attribute the source and target of the fear to avoid ambiguity and maximize the impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instill fear

Focuses more on the direct implantation of fear.

foster fear

Suggests a nurturing or gradual development of fear.

encourage fear

Implies actively motivating or supporting fear.

fuel fear

Highlights the intensification and continuation of existing fear.

spread fear

Emphasizes the dissemination of fear among a population.

generate fear

Focuses on the creation or origination of fear.

propagate fear

Implies a more systematic and widespread distribution of fear.

incite fear

Suggests provoking or instigating fear in others.

arouse fear

Highlights the stimulation or awakening of dormant fear.

cultivate fear

Implies a deliberate and sustained effort to develop fear.

FAQs

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

You can use "promote fear" to describe actions or messages that encourage or increase fear. For example, "The politician was accused of using divisive rhetoric to promote fear among voters."

What are some alternatives to "promote fear"?

You can use alternatives like "instill fear", "foster fear", or "encourage fear" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "promote fear" and "create fear"?

"Promote fear" suggests building upon existing anxieties, while "create fear" implies generating fear where it didn't previously exist.

Is it always negative to say someone is "promoting fear"?

Yes, the phrase "promote fear" typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting that someone is deliberately instilling fear for their own benefit or agenda.