dear God
Prayer's opening words
Dear God is an exclamation expressing strong emotion, typically shock, exasperation, dismay, or desperate pleading.
It functions as an appeal to the divine, though speakers need not be religious—the phrase has become a conventional intensifier.
Dear God, what happened here?
Dear God, please let him be okay.
It carries more gravity than milder expressions like "oh my" but less profanity than alternatives using stronger language.
Soft exclamation of realization
- wowCry of amazement
- goshTame exclamation of surprise
- geezMild exclamation of frustration
- jeezMild expletive of frustration
goodness · heavens · blimey · crikey · whoa · yikes · lordy · mercy
Humble plea for help
- pleaFormal request or defense
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
- beseechPlead urgently with someone
- imploreUrge with desperation
intercession · appeal · petition · invocation · cry out · calling · mercy · forgiveness
Exclamation of surprise
- exclamationForceful sudden utterance
- outburstSudden emotional release
- gaspSudden sharp breath
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
incredulity · amazement · surprise · astonishment · aghast · speechless · stunned · thunderstruck
Total absence of hope
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
alarm · panic · crisis · helpless · hopeless · overwhelmed · grief · suffering
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
aggravation · fed up · sigh · groan · eye-roll · for crying out loud · give me strength · why me
oh
Soft exclamation of realization
jeez · goodness · heavens · blimey · crikey · whoa · yikes · lordy · mercy · good gracious
supplication
Humble plea for help
implore · intercession · appeal · petition · invocation · cry out · calling · mercy · forgiveness · grace
oh my
Exclamation of surprise
- exclamationForceful sudden utterance
- outburstSudden emotional release
- gaspSudden sharp breath
disbelief · incredulity · amazement · surprise · astonishment · aghast · speechless · stunned · thunderstruck · gobsmacked
despair
Total absence of hope
dread · alarm · panic · crisis · helpless · hopeless · overwhelmed · grief · suffering · turmoil
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
vexation · aggravation · fed up · sigh · groan · eye-roll · for crying out loud · give me strength · why me · not again
- Sacred Phrasesamen, hallelujah, alleluia, glory be, blessed be
dear Godholy shit
Profane expression of shock
what the hell · son of a bitch · bloody hell · fucking hell · goddamn
dear Godpraise the Lord
Religious exclamation of worship
thank God · hallelujah · thank heavens · praise be · glory be
dear, God, dearer, dearest, dearly, dearness, endear, endearing, endearment