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trepidation

trepidation

23 8.1
A feeling of fear or worry about something that may happen
  • noun
  • /ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/
translation icon : temor
  • As she approached the stage to deliver her speech, a wave of trepidation washed over her.
  • fear and trepidation
  • Trepidation and excitement
  • expressed trepidation

But there does seem to be trepidation around saying the wrong thing.

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Examples

  • Many students feel a sense of trepidation before taking their final exams.

  • Annabelle glanced in some trepidation at the gathering storm on her young son's face.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • But there does seem to be trepidation around saying the wrong thing.

  • And so I will stop there and with fear and trepidation, ask for questions.

  • There should be some trepidation about doing and moving on.

  • I think just a little bit of trepidation, a little bit of like, what if I do the wrong thing?

  • Did you have any trepidation about getting that tone right?

  • And they hear that, you know, trepidation, that fear, that anxiety in her.

  • After much trepidation, I decided I'm going to answer this.

  • I realize I stand between a Nobel Prize winner and lunch, so it's with some trepidation that I'm here.

Synonyms

concern
vstrepidation
1.5

A feeling of worry about people or things you care about

is stronger, naming clear fear or anxiety about future events
anxiety
vstrepidation
423 3.5

A worried, nervous feeling that makes you unable to relax

is a shorter feeling of fear about a specific future event
suspense
vstrepidation
82 3.7

A feeling of excited worry about what will happen next

is fear or anxiety focused on possible bad outcomes rather than excitement
nervousness
vstrepidation
36 2.7

A feeling of being worried or anxious

is similar but points more directly to fear about the future
apprehension
vstrepidation
32 4.4

A feeling of fear or worry that something bad may happen

is the same general fear but without stressing bad outcome
unease
vstrepidation
19 4.4

A feeling of worry and not being relaxed

is stronger, naming clear fear or anxiety about what may happen
foreboding
vstrepidation
9 8.0

A strong feeling that something bad is going to happen

is similar fear but can be less certain and less intense
sinking
vstrepidation
4 5.8

A sudden nervous feeling in your stomach when you expect bad news

is steadier anxiety about a possible future rather than a sudden shock
anxiousness
vstrepidation
3 3.8

A feeling of worry and nervousness before an event or about the future

is more about fear and alarm rather than general worry
tenseness
vstrepidation
1 4.9

A feeling of nervous worry and stress

is more emotional fear about a possible future event
jitters
vstrepidation
  • Informal
1 5.5

A strong nervous feeling that often comes before an important event

is broader fear or anxiety about future events, not event specific
jumpiness
vstrepidation
1 5.9

Being nervous and easily scared by small noises or movements

is more about fearful anticipation rather than sudden physical startle
apprehensiveness
vstrepidation
7.4

A feeling of worry or fear about something that might happen

is identical in meaning and focuses on the same future fear

Antonyms

735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

456 2.1

A belief that you can do something well

How Anxious

terror
282 4.9
fear
1.0
trepidation
23 8.1
unease
19 4.4

Surface Forms

trepidation singular
trepidations plural

Morphology

trepidation = trepid (opaque) = trepid + ation

Although historically built from the root 'trepid' + '-ation', the root is not a productive or familiar English base for most learners, so the meaning is not directly derivable.

Etymology

Trepidation comes from the Latin verb trepidare, which means 'to tremble' or 'to be anxious'. So, trepidation is the shaky, nervous feeling you get when you fear something might happen.