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 After it was immobilized, the driver attempted to leave the vehicle and was apprehended by officers, according to NEA Report. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026 According to the citation, Obiazi was later re-apprehended and taken to the command post, where officers discovered the gun was reported missing from Louisville Metro Police. — Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 31 Aug. 2026 Homeland Security released a statement confirming that Yiannopoulos was apprehended at Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026 Isaiah Williams Broward Corrections Williams allegedly fled with the victim's gun before being apprehended by Miramar police. — Anna McAllister, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehend

Verb

Inspiration becomes more powerful when everyone understands their role.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
This included finding stretches of joy amid the pain, and coming to understand her flaws without judgment or fear; in all that, the movie reveals how Tessa could’ve fallen for a charming guy like Julian before his violent betrayal.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Archival records showed that modern state officials had known about the existence of cemetery for decades but had done nothing to restore it or memorialize the children.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Other vipers are known to flick their tails, especially baby vipers with bright green or neon yellow tail tips that might appear like a wiggly worm to unsuspecting frogs.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

But the truth of it is that Sharaa forced his hand by seizing swathes of the SDF’s territory in a lightning offensive in January.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
Who knows more of the injustice of the world than the girl who saw her town seized by a white-supremacist coup, the Wilmington massacre, in 1898?

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

For Siby, who is originally from Ivory Coast, the scale of the loss was impossible to comprehend.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Such agreements are typically reached after psychologists conclude that severe mental disease or defect caused a defendant not to comprehend that his or her conduct was wrong.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of comprehend

Verb

Three days before Pourrain was detained, Venezuelan national Claudia Rodríguez, 28, was released from ICE custody after being held for 20 days.

— Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Police detained Evans, who matched the description, for questioning, the report said.

— Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of detain

Verb

The opinion team should have recognized that his biased anti-Israel position was not relevant to the subject of his commentary.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Alas, for all of his brilliance, Miguel struggles to recognize the emergence of his own paranoia, let alone to identify its source.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of recognize

Verb

The man then bit Mejia and attempted to bite Olenick, which prompted the three men to start using duct tape from a flight attendant to restrain him, both men said.

— Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
At that point, Mejia and Olenick jumped in to restrain the man in his seat using duct tape and zip ties provided by a flight attendant.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of restrain

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 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of apprehend

verb

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