sheer fear

USAGE SUMMARY

'sheer fear' is a perfectly grammatical phrase and is widely used in written English.
The phrase indicates a strong emotion, usually of fear or anxiety. For example, "The sheer fear in her eyes betrayed the gravity of the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Sheer fear, sheer terror.

Independent

What worked: sheer fear.

The New York Times

Alien: Isolation For sheer fear, this is one for horror fans.

Independent

At the site where the earthquake struck, there was nothing less than sheer fear.

Independent

Sheer fear of that plunging pain is what held me back.

The New York Times

It shows that this time around, investors are reacting more to the fundamentals than to sheer fear.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

For sheer fear-mongering and dishonesty, that is hard to beat.

Huffington Post

I stopped breathing, not through fear, but from sheer awe and wonder.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We are painfully aware of the tremendous challenges that lie ahead for Iran in its peaceful resistance to a deeply authoritarian power structure bent on the use of sheer hypocrisy, fear, intimidation and brute force to hold on to power.

The New York Times

Cost and flexibility top the reasons why organisations are looking at cloud, but security, performance and a sheer visceral fear of the unknown seem to paralyse the actual movement of many organisations from internal systems that are currently constraining their capabilities to a more flexible cloud-based environment.

The Guardian

When the ride was over, I felt like I was drained from sheer thrills, fear, and I felt a desperate craving for more.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sheer fear" to emphasize the intensity and unadulterated nature of fear. For example, describe a character's reaction to a dangerous situation or a sudden shock.

Common error

Avoid using "sheer fear" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "utter terror" or "intense anxiety" to maintain reader engagement and avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer fear" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where the adjective "sheer" intensifies the noun "fear". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sheer fear" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey intense fear. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and examples from various sources, particularly news and media, demonstrate its usage in describing overwhelming emotional responses. While alternatives like "utter terror" or "absolute dread" can be used for variety, "sheer fear" effectively emphasizes the unadulterated nature of the emotion. When writing, use "sheer fear" to highlight the intensity of fear, but avoid overuse to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter terror

Replaces "fear" with "terror", emphasizing the intensity of the emotion.

acute terror

Similar to utter terror, but with a slightly different connotation.

absolute dread

Uses "dread" instead of "fear", highlighting a feeling of apprehension.

pure fright

Substitutes "fear" with "fright", indicating sudden and intense fear.

intense anxiety

Replaces "fear" with "anxiety", focusing on the worried aspect of the emotion.

overwhelming panic

Uses "panic" instead of "fear", suggesting a sudden and uncontrollable feeling.

extreme apprehension

Replaces "fear" with "apprehension", emphasizing worry about future events.

complete horror

Emphasizes the feeling of revulsion and shock alongside fear.

unadulterated alarm

Highlights a sense of immediate danger and the body's reaction to it.

plain terror

Uses "plain" as a synonym for "sheer", but with a more simple tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "sheer fear" to describe a situation or feeling where the intensity of fear is overwhelming. For example, "The hiker was paralyzed by sheer fear when he encountered a bear on the trail."

What can I say instead of "sheer fear"?

You can use alternatives like "utter terror", "absolute dread", or "pure fright" depending on the context.

Is "sheer fear" a grammatically correct phrase?

Yes, "sheer fear" is grammatically correct. "Sheer" is an adjective that modifies the noun "fear", emphasizing its intensity or purity.

What's the difference between "sheer fear" and "great fear"?

"Sheer fear" emphasizes the unadulterated and intense nature of the fear, while "great fear" simply indicates a high degree of fear. "Sheer fear" often implies a more overwhelming and paralyzing emotion than "great fear".