fearthought means excessive and unhealthy apprehensiveness; unnecessary fearfulness. It carries an Arena rating of 1712, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, fearthought ranks #1,086 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words, #1,383 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #2,237 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #2,777 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound.
Why “fearthought” is a great word
The toxic habit of inventing future troubles to dread in the present, a corrosive anticipation of negative outcomes. Coined at the turn of the twentieth century by Horace Fletcher as part of the New Thought movement, the term is a blend of 'fear' and 'forethought,' twisting prudent planning into its anxious shadow. Unlike forethought, which implies prudent consideration, or caution, which denotes sensible care, fearthought is a state of irrational apprehension that paralyzes the will. It is the flinch before a doorbell rings, the rehearsal of a condolence for a friend in perfect health, and the sleepless construction of invisible prisons from the lumber of what might be—a testament to imagination’s peculiar talent for building its own gallows.
Etymology
Blend of fear + forethought. Coined by Horace Fletcher as part of New Thought Movement at the turn of the twentieth century.
noun
- Excessive and unhealthy apprehensiveness; unnecessary fearfulness.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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