a deep-seated fear — entrenched fear; a fear that is long-lasting and difficult to change
collocationC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
A strong fear that has existed for a long time, often rooted in past experiences or upbringing, and is not easily overcome.
Say it like a native
Textbook She harbours a profoundly ingrained apprehension of failure.
Native She has a deep-seated fear of failure.
'Deep-seated fear' is the natural collocation; 'profoundly ingrained apprehension' is overwritten.
Pattern: a deep-seated fear (of something)
In use
- She has a deep-seated fear of flying that makes it hard for her to travel abroad.daily life
- Many people have a deep-seated fear of public speaking, which can seriously affect their performance at work or university.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It's a deep-seeded fear.
✓ It's a deep-seated fear.
It's 'deep-seated' (firmly set in place), not 'deep-seeded' — a common spelling error.
Common collocations
deep-seated + fear— a deep-seated fear, deep-seated anxiety, deep-seated belief, deeply held
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'a strong fear', which simply means a powerful fear, 'a deep-seated fear' emphasizes that the fear is deeply rooted and long-lasting, not just intense in the moment.