APPREHEND Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

apprehend

verb

ˌa-pri-ˈhend

Definition of apprehend

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of do you apprehend the importance of this discovery?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to arrest

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the agency charged with apprehending criminals who have violated federal law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of apprehend The air base itself was bustling with activity after the men were apprehended. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2026 The film cuts between Murray cautiously opening the suspicious package and FBI agents apprehending Kaczynski decades later. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 According to news organization Agence France Presse, the duo were first apprehended by Louvre security, with local police called to the scene shortly thereafter. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 Sep. 2026 The officer fell to the ground and immediately got up and worked to apprehend the suspects, according to police and video of the incident released by police. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehend

Verb

For some reason--some great reason, that only the editors on the other side of the room understand--the reporters for at least the Democrat-Gazette's story (unlike some national outlets) decided to call Skip Rutherford.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Firms like Edward Jones and LPL Financial, meanwhile, are rapidly adopting AI tools to gain financial insights, but also to better understand and communicate with their customers.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

The teen and his parents were contacted by police Tuesday, and he was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
He was arrested about 20 miles south of his hometown in East Palestine, Ohio, where police were conducting a prostitution sting at a mobile home park.

— Erick Mendoza, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrest

Verb

Can the letter writer let sister know her fuss over food and product choices for 4-year-old nephew is hard to watch?

— Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
Speaking of nail-biters, Marisa Berenson, better known for her roles in front of the camera, is in the process of putting together her own movie project.

— Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Oviedo also alleged that bundles of cash seized from an ambulance leaving Mariaca’s home in the city of Santa Cruz early Thursday were proceeds of extortion targeting people who sought help from prosecutors.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Azerbaijan has denied these allegations, but the country is a major oil supplier to Israel, which might be enough to push Tehran to try to seize Nakhichevan, an Azerbaijani exclave on the Iranian border.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

The resulting consequences to the information ecosystem are hard to comprehend, with Brown Brothers Media claiming to vacuum up tens of millions of views via their scheme.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026
Ironically, sports uniforms at Eton are even harder to comprehend than the regular daily uniform.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of comprehend

Verb

Terrones looked on at the black casket holding her youngest boy, the goofball who loved his family, the one who had longed for her support while she was detained.

— Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
The 18-year -old is one of thousands of people who have been in prolonged detention after being detained by federal immigration authorities, ABC News has reported.

— Rebecca Gelpi-Ufret, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of detain

Verb

The credit ecosystem will continue to recognize these human achievements, while finding ways to appropriately recognize the contributions of their AI collaborators.

— Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Williamson was recognized for his role in organizing the Dawson’s Creek table read held to support Van Der Beek following his colon cancer diagnosis.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of recognize

Browse Nearby Words

appreciatory

apprehend

apprehended

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Style

“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehend. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of apprehend

verb

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