apprehensiveness

noun

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

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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
  1. fear
  2. dread
  3. concern
  4. anxiety
  5. worry
  6. apprehension
  7. unease
  8. uncertainty
Noun
  • Bell also spoke of the importance of prioritizing communication in their relationship — especially during moments of fear or insecurity.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Our country right now is mired in a level of bullying and intolerance that, for some, might feed their fears, but won’t feed their family.
    — Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Unlike the 1960 film, where Mizuno narrates his own tragedy, Yeon and Katayama’s new Vapor is an object of mystery and dread rather than the story’s protagonist.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • Without a sense of dread and horror, From just becomes a kind of supernatural soap opera where everyone is angry at one another all the time.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of dread
Noun
  • Air quality has been a constant concern for the community since the incident began.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Dozens of local activists have spoken out against Flock’s expansive network in recent months, citing privacy concerns.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • And at times members of the congregation thank her and others for casting aside those anxieties and keeping this place going.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • That uncertainty allows anxiety to grow because your brain naturally wants answers that do not yet exist.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of anxiety
Noun
  • Trustee Robert Jones renewed his worries that the creation of a subdivision of only the Sacramento and Yolo County portions of the district in April excluded conservative voters in El Dorado County who would likely to vote against the bond measure.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
  • Both relatively tolerant, despite the mothers’ initial worries about outsiders, the households mirror one another.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Fan apprehensions proved to be grounded when Belgium scored a third goal about 12 minutes into the second half.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • For the first time in living memory, the arrival of a new technology has inspired apprehension, rather than unrestrained enthusiasm.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of apprehension
Noun
  • To convey the family’s internal unease, Cárdenas landed on a number of devices that were subtle but significant in terms of changing the optics of the series.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
  • Declassified British documents from the 1960s revealed government unease over the presence of the micronation, as well as eventually shelved plans to bomb it.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • But the idea of luxury accessories serving as emotional armor amid economic uncertainty clearly resonates with consumers and marketeers capitalizing on the phenomenon.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • The restrictions were lifted last week, ending a period of regulatory uncertainty that limited availability for users worldwide.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Definition of uncertainty
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.

Browse Nearby Words

apprehensively
apprehensiveness
apprentice
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Cite this Entry

“Apprehensiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensiveness. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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