1
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
do you apprehend the importance of this discovery?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 apprehending
The federal statute authorizes law enforcement agencies to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating, apprehending and detaining people in the country illegally.
—
Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Protesters in Minneapolis have since flooded the streets in the thousands, and ICE agents have responded by apprehending some, shoving others to the ground, and spraying chemical irritants in their faces.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Brown was extradited to Miami from Essex County, New Jersey, where law enforcement took him Thursday after apprehending him in Dubai.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
Bands of masked men apprehending people in broad daylight in the streets and hauling them off.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The swift police response and use of video surveillance technology proved crucial in identifying and apprehending the shooter.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
But also on board the ship that night is this detective who is charged with apprehending Providence.
—Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Rider agents are tasked with fighting drug smuggling and human trafficking, locating and apprehending undocumented migrants and occasionally rescuing migrants and citizen hikers.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Protesters in Minneapolis have since flooded the streets in the thousands, and ICE agents have responded by apprehending some, shoving others to the ground, and spraying chemical irritants in their faces.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Brown was extradited to Miami from Essex County, New Jersey, where law enforcement took him Thursday after apprehending him in Dubai.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
Bands of masked men apprehending people in broad daylight in the streets and hauling them off.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The swift police response and use of video surveillance technology proved crucial in identifying and apprehending the shooter.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
But also on board the ship that night is this detective who is charged with apprehending Providence.
—Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Rider agents are tasked with fighting drug smuggling and human trafficking, locating and apprehending undocumented migrants and occasionally rescuing migrants and citizen hikers.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehending
Verb
-
Couples should feel confident asserting their expectations, knowing the photographer will be their sole source of images from the ceremony.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And just knowing if that is this team, we are built for the playoffs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The White House has long blamed problems arresting criminal immigrants on places known as sanctuary jurisdictions, a term generally applied to state and local governments that limit law enforcement cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security.—
Steve Karnowski,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Associated Press reports one of its photographers witnessed several federal agents arresting a car full of activists at gunpoint Tuesday morning in south Minneapolis.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In school, Yoneifer was learning English fast, understanding basic expressions and responding in Spanish, his mom says.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The bottom line, though, is about understanding your teen and how this trend is affecting them, rather than fighting back against the trend for the sake of it.—
Jana Pollack,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
United teams of the past decade have been good at seizing on the unintended errors of opponents.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
According to a United Nations report, since seizing Rubaya, the rebels have imposed taxes on the trade and transport of coltan, generating at least $800,000 a month.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the Arctic, leadership means recognizing that Greenland is not a curiosity or a punchline.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Even smart organizations that do listen to customers often fixate on willingness to pay, rarely questioning what shapes it or recognizing its limits.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The incident became a flash point in ongoing debates over whether immigration officials had gone too far in detaining a young boy.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Nationally there have been documented instances of ICE either directly targeting a school or child care center, or detaining students, parents or staff in the vicinity of these spaces, like school parking lots and bus stops, in Minnesota, Illinois, and California since January 2025.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As an avalanche and dead bodies ratchet up the suspense, Zach must lean on his mother’s wisdom to fight for his life while deciphering a confusing undercurrent of danger, violence and betrayal among the survivors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
By building out a picture of the whales’ health, habits and diet, researchers are deciphering the many ways humans impact their lives and guiding conservation actions that may mean life or death for the orcas.—
Kelso Harper,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
13 Jan. 2026
-
And only by comprehending the Star Eaters will Ro also comprehend his part in their potential destruction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apprehending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehending. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
