A collection of words for dread, anxiety, and the things that frighten us — from everyday vocabulary to rare and beautiful gems.
Showing 24 of 341 words
use immunity
noun
An exemption that displaces the privilege against self-incrimination; neither compelled testimony or any fruits of it can be used against the witness who therefore can no longer fear self-incrimination
testimonial immunity
tremor
An involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
shudder
vaginismus
Muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination
desensitization technique
A technique used in behavior therapy to treat phobias and other behavior problems involving anxiety; client is exposed to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished
desensitisation technique
desensitization procedure
desensitisation procedure
systematic desensitization
systematic desensitisation
reciprocal inhibition
A method of behavior therapy based on the inhibition of one response by the occurrence of another response that is mutually incompatible with it; a relaxation response might be conditioned to a stimulus that previously evoked anxiety
reciprocal-inhibition therapy
rest-cure
Rest as a medical treatment for stress or anxiety etc.
terror
The use of extreme fear in order to coerce people (especially for political reasons); "he used terror to make them confess"
terrorism
The calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear
act of terrorism
terrorist act
galvanic skin response
A change in the electrical properties of the skin in response to stress or anxiety; can be measured either by recording the electrical resistance of the skin or by recording weak currents generated by the body
psychogalvanic response
electrodermal response
electrical skin response
tremble
A reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement
shiver
Related categories
Can't find the exact word?
Describe the feeling in your own words and let our AI search 100k+ definitions.
Coin a word for fear
If no existing word fits, invent one. The generator will save it here automatically.