noun
fear; fright; panic; trepidation
A state of being startled, scared, or panicked. Often used in expressions like おびえている (to be frightened) or おびえを感じる (to feel fear).
彼女の目にはおびえの色が浮かんでいた。
A look of fear appeared in her eyes.
地震のあと、人々はおびえの中
After the earthquake, people spent the night in a state of panic.
恐怖 is a more general and intense term for 'fear' or 'terror', while おびえ emphasizes the visible or felt state of being startled or panicked, often with a nuance of trembling or alarm.
怯える is the verb 'to be frightened' or 'to panic', from which おびえ is derived as the noun form (連用形). おびえ focuses on the resulting state or feeling.
Derived from the verb 怯える (おびえる, 'to be frightened'), which is of native Japanese origin. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji 怯 carries the meaning of fear or cowardice.