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instill dread

[ɪnˈstɪl drɛd]
verb phrase
incutir medo / infundir terror
1. to gradually cause someone to feel fear or anxiety; to introduce a sense of terror into someone's mind
The threatening letter was designed to instill dread in the recipient.
A carta ameaçadora foi projetada para incutir medo no destinatário.
2. to create a persistent feeling of apprehension or foreboding
The sound of footsteps in the dark began to instill dread in her heart.
O som de passos no escuro começou a infundir terror em seu coração.
Synonyms
inspire fearevoke terrorprovoke anxietycreate apprehensioninstill fearfill with dread
Antonyms
reassurecomfortencourageinspire confidencealleviate fear

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
incutir medo / infundir pavor
commonly used in both spoken and written Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
meter medo / botar terror
more colloquial usage
São Paulo
incutir medo / causar pavor
standard formal usage
Portugal
incutir medo / infundir temor
formal and literary usage preferred

Related Idioms & Phrases

put the fear of God in someone
strike fear into someone's heart
fill someone with dread
make someone's blood run cold
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