WordValetrepidation
fear or nervousness about the future
In more detail
a feeling of fear or worry about something that might happen
Examples
- She approached the dentist's chair with some trepidation.
How to use trepidation
Trepidation denotes anxious anticipation of something unwelcome or uncertain, often conveying a more formal or literary tone than simpler synonyms like worry or fear. It typically appears in contexts where someone faces an upcoming event or decision with unease, and often occurs in the phrase 'with trepidation' to describe how an action is performed.
Common phrases
- with trepidation
- feeling trepidation
- some trepidation
- in trepidation
- trepidation about
Synonyms
anxiety · apprehension · unease · dread · nervousness
Opposites
confidence · assurance · calm
Word family
trepid (adjective, rare)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use trepidation to mean excitement or anticipation of something positive, but it specifically conveys negative worry or dread, not neutral or pleasurable anticipation.
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