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trepidation
/ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/
fear or anxiety
She felt a sense of trepidation before her job interview.
She was nervous and anxious before her job interview.
formal
A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.
The students approached the exam with trepidation.
The students felt nervous and worried before the exam.
He spoke with trepidation about the risky investment.
He spoke hesitantly and fearfully about the risky investment.
Often implies a sense of dread or unease rather than sudden terror.
Collocations
with trepidationin a nervous or fearful wayfeel trepidationexperience fear or anxiety
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'trepidation'
While 'trepidation' is a strong word, it can sound overly dramatic if used for minor worries. Reserve it for situations where the fear is significant or profound.
Gold Rule
Use 'trepidation' for anticipatory fear
Trepidation specifically refers to fear or anxiety about something that may happen in the future, not fear of an immediate threat.
Word Origin
From Latin 'trepidatio(n-)', from 'trepidare' meaning 'to tremble' or 'be agitated'.
Usage Notes
Trepidation is a more formal and slightly elevated term than 'fear' or 'anxiety'. It is often used in literary or academic contexts to describe a nuanced emotional state.
Word Breakdown
trepid-
to tremble or be agitated
root-ation
forms nouns indicating action or condition
suffixEnglish Dictionary