significant fear

USAGE SUMMARY

"significant fear" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a fear that is either particularly strong or important in some way. For example, "The decision to leave his home country triggered a significant fear in him of the unknown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

There's a significant fear that's there," he told me.

The New Yorker

"In particular, the menacing nature of the tweets sent by both defendants caused her significant fear that they would find her and carry out their threats".

The Guardian - Tech

It was a significant fear among the majority of us, as we checked our dwindling atropine supplies and thought through mass casualty decontamination plans.

The Guardian - Opinion

The researchers found significant fear of being a victim of fraud, with a lot of cynicism towards the government, corporations and press.

The Guardian - Opinion

One significant fear has less to do with the science and more to do with the shifting balance of economic power.

The Guardian

Injection treatment followed the same pattern of results seen in Experiment 1. Finally, animals given daily injections of the aromatase inhibitor, Fadrozole, displayed significant fear generalization.

Hormones and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

During the war in 1991, the American government did not have such significant fears of terrorist strikes against overseas bases or targets in the United States.

The New York Times

The Goldman Sachs scandal could prove to be one for the ages if the significant fears expressed by bank shareholders turn out to be well founded.

The New York Times

The poll, for the Scotland on Sunday newspaper, also exposed significant fears that Scotland would remain divided after September's referendum.

Independent

One of the significant fears Russell writes about — a fear close to his own heart — is the fear of being unlovable, which, he writes, is self-fulfilling unless one gets out from under fear's dominion.

The New York Times

Mr. De Gucht's decision in June to carry out his threat to impose tariffs on solar panels from China generated significant fears within the union about retribution from China.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "significant fear" when you want to emphasize that a fear is not trivial or easily dismissed, indicating that it has real consequences or implications.

Common error

Avoid using "significant fear" to describe minor anxieties. Reserve it for situations where the fear is genuinely impactful or widespread, otherwise, it might sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant fear" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "fear". Ludwig AI confirms it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It highlights the importance or intensity of a feeling of fear.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "significant fear" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a notable or consequential sense of fear. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various domains. It is frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts, suggesting its broad applicability. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure that the fear being described is truly impactful, to avoid sounding hyperbolic. Alternatives like "considerable apprehension" or "substantial anxiety" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Overall, "significant fear" is a useful and versatile phrase for expressing the importance or intensity of a feeling of fear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable apprehension

Replaces "fear" with a more formal synonym, "apprehension", while maintaining the intensity with "considerable".

substantial anxiety

Substitutes "fear" with "anxiety", emphasizing the psychological unease, and uses "substantial" to indicate the degree.

intense dread

Replaces "fear" with "dread", highlighting a more profound and often paralyzing form of fear, intensified by "intense".

deep-seated worry

Conveys a fear that is not only strong but also deeply ingrained, using "deep-seated" to express its persistent nature.

serious concern

Shifts the focus to the potential consequences of the fear, framing it as a "serious concern" that requires attention.

profound unease

Emphasizes the disturbance and discomfort caused by the fear, using "profound" to indicate its depth.

grave misgivings

Replaces "fear" with "misgivings", suggesting doubts and anxieties about a future event or decision, made more serious by "grave".

palpable trepidation

Uses "trepidation", a more formal synonym for fear, and "palpable" to indicate that the fear is so strong it is almost tangible.

marked fearfulness

Replaces "significant" with "marked" and "fear" with the noun form "fearfulness", slightly altering the tone while retaining the core meaning.

considerable trepidation

Replaces "fear" with "trepidation", a synonym that emphasizes apprehension and anxiety, especially regarding future events, and modifies it with "considerable" for emphasis.

FAQs

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

You can use "significant fear" to describe a substantial or noteworthy level of fear. For example, "There is "significant fear" among residents due to the recent crime wave".

What are some alternatives to "significant fear"?

Alternatives include "considerable apprehension", "substantial anxiety", or "intense dread". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a significant fear"?

Yes, "a significant fear" is grammatically correct. It emphasizes that a particular instance of fear is noteworthy or important.

What's the difference between "significant fear" and "major fear"?

Both "significant fear" and "major fear" indicate a high degree of fear. "Significant fear" often implies that the fear has important consequences or implications, while "major fear" simply emphasizes the intensity of the fear.