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trepidation

ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃənnoun

What does trepidation mean?

A nervous fear about something that is about to happen.

Trepidation, six ways

PlainA nervous fear about something that is about to happen.
ADHDNervous dread. Something’s coming. Stomach knows.
Gen ZThat pre-event stomach drop. Before the results, before the dentist.
MetaphorA hand that shakes before it knocks.
FormalA feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
Like I’m 5Feeling scared and shaky about something that is going to happen. That’s trepidation.

How to pronounce trepidation

trep-ih-DAY-shun/ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/

Trepidation in a sentence

She opened the letter with trepidation.
I pressed send with some trepidation.
The new rules were met with trepidation.

Synonyms for trepidation

apprehensionWorry about what is coming.
dreadStronger, heavier fear.
nervousnessPlainer.

Where trepidation comes from

Latin. Trepidare, to tremble, to hurry in alarm.

Good to know

Often in the phrase with trepidation. Its cousin intrepid means fearless.

Trepidation meaning, on a Gloss card: A nervous fear about something that is about to happen.

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Trepidation on one card: what it means, how to say it, and a sentence. Keep it, or pin it for later.

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Words like trepidation

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In: Words for feelings · SAT words