What's the difference between worry and fear?

Question

What's the difference between worry and fear?

Answer 1

Degree, mostly. It's also a question of semantics. Also, worry tends to apply to what might happen - in the future. And fear is usually a response what is happening, now. Worry is provoked by anxiety-producing thoughts, fear is usually provoked by some kind of situation/stimuli.

Fear is more intense. Worry is more linked to anxiety. (Because both these concepts were actually words first, dictionary definitions would help you define the difference. Different cultures separate and name different aspects of an emotion in different ways)

Answer 2

Worry is when your concerned that you might not do well at something for example.

Fear is not doing it because of that worry.

Answer 3

They mean basically the same thing. It is sort of a cause and affect situation.

For example,

You fear spiders, which is the cause, and the affect, is that you worry all the time of seeing one or getting bit by one.

So the fear leads up to the worry.

Answer 4

Worry is having anxiety and anticipating that something is going to happen that you don't like and wish to avoid.

Fear also causes avoidance, but when confronted with the situation, causes either a flight or fight response.  You either attack your fear or you freeze in panic.

Answer 5

worry is something you will worry to fear,

for ex// if you are seen by a lion, you will worry if it will bite you and then you will fear

Answer 6

I think worry is more of a social and emotional standard. Fear seems more primal.  

Answer 7

I think, in fear you are afraid of something, where as in worry you feel restless for your inability to do or for not doing something.  

Answer 8

Fear is more often acute - it is usually in direct response to a perceived threat and is much more intense than worry. When someone experiences fear they are usually motivated toward escape or avoidance.  Worry, on the other hand, can persist for lengthy periods and is at a lower level of intensity.  It is not always in response to a stimulus, but more often in response to some internal state.  You may worry about a hurricane that never arrives.  But when it does arrive, you'll likely experience fear.

Answer 9

You worry about things you know...and you fear the things you don't.