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 Several Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks were apprehended for questioning, the military said in a statement. — Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026 Inside were Doe’s brother and boyfriend, both of who were briefly apprehended, per a police report obtained by CNN. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 The man then allegedly tried to get into an American Airlines lavatory service truck before Airport Police Services officers apprehended him, the outlet reported. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 While Trippie wasn’t apprehended on any charges, an investigation into the case remains ongoing. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehend

Verb

Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Reynolds understood how to sell the new pen, too, with advertisements promising an avant-garde writing utensil, capable of enduring long stretches of writing with no need to replenish the ink.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

People in the country longer may have more opportunities to contest their removal while the government typically has greater authority to fast-track deportations for people arrested at the border.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
In April, a US Army soldier was arrested and charged with using confidential information to make $410,000 in Polymarket bets on the timing of the military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrest

Verb

The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Anyone who has worked at a fast-growing company at the edge of technology knows that obligations, circumstances and products change daily.

— Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Experts worry federal law enforcement could potentially use those false claims — or others generated this year — as pretext to try to seize ballots during the counting period, or interfere in the process in some other way.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
Those weaknesses could enable cybercriminals to seize control of unprotected website servers, install malware, pilfer customer data and even take sites down completely.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

No single person can claim to comprehend an EUV machine in its entirety.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
That straining to comprehend the irrational fog of human emotions is the show’s explicit subject only clarifies the problem rather than neutralizing it.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of comprehend

Verb

Stephen Hubbard, 74, was sentenced to nearly seven years in a penal colony in 2024, after being detained in April 2022.

— Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
The legislation also calls for Atlanta and the Fulton County sheriff to negotiate a separate agreement covering how space and services will be shared, including housing people detained on municipal charges.

— CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of detain

Verb

Only in this case, the vaccine’s mRNA teaches immune cells to recognize key features of an individual’s cancer rather than a virus.

— Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Their point was to maintain an environment where work could be conducted safely without disruption while recognizing the rights of all individuals.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of recognize

Verb

On the strength of those elections, restrained only marginally by the midterm elections of 1982, Reagan began his second term on top of the world.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Security restrained Kruse’s arm behind her back while escorting her through the stands.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 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 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of apprehend

verb

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