spectre

1. N-COUNT If you refer to the spectre of something unpleasant, you are referring to something that you are frightened might occur. (對某事可能會發(fā)生而産生的) 縈繞心頭的恐懼[usu 'the' N 'of' n]

The arrests raised the spectre of revenge attacks. 拘捕增加了對報複性攻擊的恐懼。