1
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
her apprehensiveness about starting college is keeping her awake at night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
my apprehensiveness about raw fish disagreeing with me is keeping me from even trying sushi
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehensiveness
Noun
-
But all friends need to be honest with each other, to tell each other home truths when it’s needed, to confront those awkward moments without fear of the reaction.—
Steve Sedgwick,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025 -
The progressive fear that the Abundance movement wants to take over the Democratic Party isn’t baseless at all — its adherents have plenty of influence in it now.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Wax Child is about the dread of living in brutal hierarchies, and the shapes that friendship and protection take to counteract these grim realities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
But on a day when Mizzou amassed 595 total yards, converted 4 of 5 fourth downs and got an excellent effort from first-year starting quarterback Beau Pribula, surrendering possession had to fill Kansas followers with a sense of dread.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And Danielson noted that the team now has plenty of time to practice and give attention to areas of concern.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
-
At the same time, concern is growing about how certain food additives and preservatives may disrupt the gut’s delicate balance.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Add in the possibility of more extensive – and costly – work such as bridges, crowns, extractions or implants, and the anxiety can grow even stronger.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The enthusiasm around personal curriculums and independent learning might reflect modern-day anxieties.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The worry is that these aren’t simple, one-off glitches, but systemic flaws with the way that generative tools are designed and built, and a lack of accountability for the behavior of AI algorithms.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Taxes at that level were essentially a blockade on commerce between the world's two largest economies, causing worries about global growth that led to negotiations that ratcheted down the tariffs being levied by both nations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The brief spasm, though, betrays an unease in the incredibly slim majority Johnson controls and the volatility in his base.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
-
That sense of unease has grown more in recent years, as shifting immigration policies fuel confusion about what protections still exist.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For many Americans, the introduction of opaque algorithms adds another layer of uncertainty.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
A lot can change by 2026, especially with so much uncertainty in the economy and global affairs.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Nuclear vs renewables One obstacle to faster licensing is public apprehension about living near nuclear facilities, no matter how small.—
Anna Heim,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
-
To the 73 million Americans whose financial lives depend on the viability of Social Security, those first months were a seesaw of apprehension and rumor.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Apprehensiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensiveness. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share