latent fear
Dormant underlying anxiety
Latent fear is fear that exists beneath the surface—present but not actively felt or expressed.
A latent fear of abandonment might shape someone's relationships without their awareness.
The fear remains dormant until circumstances bring it forward: His latent fear of failure emerged when he was finally promoted.
- hiddenKept out of sight
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- suppressedForcibly held down
- lurkingConcealed and watchful
unconscious · dormant · unease · buried · under the surface · creeping · shadow · repressed · subconscious · underlying · foreboding · simmering · festering · gnawing · cold sweat · fight or flight · primal · unnamed