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

Employees have become burned out and morally conflicted as their focus has shifted from pursuing drug smugglers and human traffickers to apprehending asylum seekers in courthouses and arresting day laborers at their worksites. — Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Only instead of just peacefully apprehending opponents, Doncic’s super-competitive alter ego wants to smash them all under an array of increasingly rude step-back jumpers. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

The film cuts between Murray cautiously opening the suspicious package and FBI agents apprehending Kaczynski decades later. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

One deputy suffered minor injuries while apprehending Cody Frank, while another was treated for possible fentanyl exposure after taking one of the suspects to jail, authorities said. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

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

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

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