English Synonyms and Antonyms

Fear is the generic term denoting an emotion excited by threatening evil with a desire to avoid or escape it;
fear may be sudden or lingering, in view of present, of imminent, or of distant and only possible danger; in the
latter sense dread is oftener used. Horror (etymologically a shivering or shuddering) denotes a shuddering
fear accompanied with abhorrence or such a shock to the feelings and sensibilities as may exist without fear,
as when one suddenly encounters some ghastly spectacle; we say of a desperate but fettered criminal, "I
looked upon him with horror." Where horror includes fear, it is fear mingled with abhorrence. (See
ABHOR.) Affright, fright, and terror are always sudden, and in actual presence of that which is terrible. Fear
may overwhelm, or may nerve one to desperate defense; fright and terror render one incapable of defense;
fear may be controlled by force of will; fright and terror overwhelm the will; terror paralyzes, fright may
cause one to fly, to scream, or to swoon. Fright is largely a matter of the nerves; fear of the intellect and the
imagination; terror of all the faculties, bodily and mental. Panic is a sudden fear or fright, affecting numbers
at once; vast armies or crowded audiences are liable to panic upon slight occasion. In a like sense we speak of
a financial panic. Dismay is a helpless sinking of heart in view of some overwhelming peril or sorrow. Dismay
is more reflective, enduring, and despairing than fright; a horse is subject to fright or terror, but not to dismay.
Awe is a reverential fear. Compare ALARM.
Antonyms:
See synonyms for FORTITUDE.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
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FEMININE.
Synonyms:
effeminate, female, womanish, womanly.
We apply female to the sex, feminine to the qualities, especially the finer physical or mental qualities that
distinguish the female sex in the human family, or to the objects appropriate for or especially employed by
them. A female voice is the voice of a woman; a feminine voice may belong to a man. Womanish denotes the
undesirable, womanly the admirable or lovely qualities of woman. Womanly tears would suggest respect and
sympathy, womanish tears a touch of contempt. The word effeminate is always used reproachfully, and only
of men as possessing womanly traits such as are inconsistent with true manliness.
Antonyms:
See synonyms for MASCULINE.
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FETTER.
Synonyms:
bondage, custody, gyves, irons, bonds, durance, handcuffs, manacles, chains, duress, imprisonment, shackles.
Bonds may be of cord, leather, or any other substance that can bind; chains are of linked metal. Manacles and
handcuffs are for the hands, fetters are primarily chains or jointed iron fastenings for the feet; gyves may be
for either. A shackle is a metallic ring, clasp, or bracelet-like fastening for encircling and restraining a limb:
commonly one of a pair, used either for hands or feet. Bonds, fetters, and chains are used in a general way for
almost any form of restraint. Gyves is now wholly poetic, and the other words are mostly restricted to the
literary style; handcuffs is the specific and irons the general term in popular usage; as, the prisoner was put in
irons. Bonds, chains, and shackles are frequently used in the metaphorical sense.
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FEUD.
Synonyms:
affray, brawl, contest, dissension, hostility, animosity, broil, controversy, enmity, quarrel, bitterness,
contention, dispute, fray, strife.
A