Synonyms for trepidation
Most common
fear excitement apprehension consternation quivering quaking nervousness
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Fear — anxiety over the uncertain future or possible ill-occurrence
fear, feer US, fere UK, apprehension, excitement, consternation, hesitation, panic, fright, agitation, worry, terror, alarm, hurry, flutter, disturbance, perturbation, discomposure, dread, uneasiness, dismay, disquiet, fuss, commotion
2. Quaking — an involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Anxiety over the uncertain future or possible ill-occurrence.
I decided, with considerable trepidation, to let him drive my car without me.
- n. 2
An involuntary trembling, sometimes an effect of paralysis, but usually caused by terror or fear.
Forms
- Plural
- trepidations → fears, apprehensions, excitements, consternations…
Example sentences
- fear I wrote his name down for fear I should forget it.
- excitement Igor's excitement for exploring Algeria only grew.
- apprehension He detected in her voice a note of apprehension.
- consternation Tom looked in consternation at the stain on his shirt.
- quivering In a quivering voice she cried "Help!"
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| trepidation | rising | |
| fear | rising | |
| excitement | rising | |
| apprehension | steady | |
| consternation | rising | |
| quivering | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- fear1, fuss1, fere, feer
- 5 letters
- worry2, panic2, alarm2, hurry2, dread1
- 6 letters
- terror2, fright1, dismay2, tremor2
- 7 letters
- shaking2, flutter2, quaking2
- 8 letters
- disquiet3
- 9 letters
- trembling3, agitation4, commotion3, quivering3
- 10 letters
- excitement3, hesitation4, uneasiness4
- 11 letters
- disturbance3, nervousness3
- 12 letters
- apprehension4, perturbation4, discomposure
- 13 letters
- consternation4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (worry2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- trépidation
- Italiano
- trepidazione