Synonyms of apprehending

apprehending

verb

present participle of apprehend

1

as in knowing

to have a clear idea of

do you apprehend the importance of this discovery?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• knowing
• understanding
• recognizing
• deciphering
• comprehending
• seeing
• grasping
• appreciating
• perceiving
• realizing
• conceiving
• sensing
• discerning
• getting
• assimilating
• seizing
• cognizing
• intuiting
• beholding
• making
• decoding
• registering
• catching
• compassing
• digging
• tumbling (to)
• catching on (to)
• grokking
• making out
• savvying
• twigging
• fathoming
• picking up on
• absorbing
• cottoning (to or on to)
• digesting
• taking in
• penetrating
• piercing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missing
• mistaking
• misunderstanding
• misinterpreting
• misconstruing
• misreading
• misapprehending
• misconceiving
• misperceiving

2

as in arresting

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

• arresting
• seizing
• detaining
• grabbing
• restraining
• capturing
• committing
• nabbing
• pinching
• nailing
• running in
• nicking
• catching
• snatching
• jailing
• collaring
• pulling in
• busting
• imprisoning
• incarcerating
• trapping
• picking up
• confining
• snaring
• grappling
• hooking
• bagging
• handcuffing
• snapping (up)
• landing
• locking (up)
• holding
• getting
• interning
• remanding
• shackling
• binding
• fettering
• jugging
• enchaining
• immuring
• trammeling
• manacling
• rearresting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharging
• freeing
• springing
• releasing
• emancipating
• liberating
• loosening
• loosing
• unchaining
• unbinding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of apprehending

She’s tasked with apprehending The Puppet Master (Iemasa Kayumi), a hacker who appears to be tapping directly into these networked minds and altering memories. — David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026

Police posted video of the raid on social media, showing officers collecting evidence at the scene and apprehending the suspect. — CBS News, 13 June 2026

The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service and New Mexico State Police assisted in apprehending Jones, Hann said. — Caroline Zimmerman may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

Federal immigration agents fanned across the city, apprehending workers at car washes, garment businesses, Home Depots and other locations. — Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

This arc is advancing slower than a glacier on Hoth, and Mando apprehending a couple of mid-level Imps on the big screen doesn't really fill the gap. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 25 May 2026

In the video shared exclusively with Fox News by ICE, officers are seen apprehending and arresting the Honduran national. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Danamarie McNicholl, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 compelled authorities in northern free states to assist in apprehending and returning those who escaped back to slavery. — Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026

Los Angeles ran from 2009 to 2023, centered around the high-stakes world of a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals, who pose a threat to the nation’s security. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026