misgiving

noun

mis·​giv·​ing ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ 

: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event

Many people have expressed misgivings about his ability to do the job.

Synonyms

• distrust
• distrustfulness
• doubt
• dubiety
• dubitation [archaic]
• incertitude
• misdoubt
• mistrust
• mistrustfulness
• query
• reservation
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty

Examples of misgiving in a Sentence

I felt some misgiving about his ability to do the job.

They regarded the plan with misgiving.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hawley pointed to Trump’s advice to bolster his own misgivings. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 23 May 2025

The hope, for both sets of players, is that victory in Bilbao can be the ultimate distraction from their misgivings in the league, and give their respective fans something to cheer about in an otherwise chastening season. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 May 2025

Paul’s misgivings haven’t yet resulted in an impasse. —Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025

Even some Republicans have expressed misgivings with Trump’s plan to accept the Qatari’s offer. —Nik Popli, Time, 13 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• forgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

misgiving

noun

mis·​giv·​ing (ˈ)mis-ˈgiv-iŋ 

: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event