✅  Fear is often focused on something specific that has been and will likely be encountered again (She had a fear of needles) or something that’s being encountered presently (Fear filled him when he heard the wolf howl). However, fear does not have to be attached to a specific event.

✅  Dread suggests a sense of anticipation (I was filled with dread about my upcoming interview), and usually surfaces when there’s a specific event happening or about to happen. You can have a fear of spiders all the time; you experience dread when you know you’re going to have to face a spider in the near future.

✅  Dread and fear can both be used in situations that are difficult rather than scary. When fear is used in this context, it’s often in a statement about not being afraid (They had no fear of losing).

With the help of Grammar Coach, try using the word dread while writing about a pack of werewolves!

✅  Get and acquire are both used in the context of gaining possession of something.

✅  Get can be used in most circumstances, and can apply to things that aren’t tangible or physical (I got a promotion), or even things that you don’t actually want (I hope I don’t get a cold).

✅  Acquire often implies that you went to some effort to attain something, and stresses the fact that you’ve now got it (They finally acquired the rights to the music; Through training, I’ve acquired the necessary skills).

✅  While words like buy or purchase specify ways to get something, acquire can obscure how someone got it, sometimes even suggesting that it was stolen without saying so directly (The two brothers suddenly acquired new watches).

Acquire an even better vocabulary with these synonyms for get!

✅  Evident and obvious both describe things that are easy to see or understand.

✅  Obvious is the best word to use when something is completely clear and unquestionable (The answer was obvious), but suggesting that something is obvious can sound arrogant (How can you not see that? It’s obvious!).

✅  Evident is best when something becomes obvious because of certain facts or circumstances. Slightly more formal than obvious, evident is used when there is clear evidence (From the video footage, their innocence was evident).

⚠️  Be careful when you hear someone using evident or obvious, especially if they don’t present any reasoning to support their statements. Assertions like it’s obvious, when it really is not, can be used to confuse or manipulate.

We hope the differences are evident now! Have a look at some other synonyms for obvious!