1
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
the hikers entered the dark cave with a great deal of apprehension
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrest
the act of taking into one's control by authority of law
apprehension of the burglar set the neighborhood at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
felt a great deal of apprehension about the trip and about arriving safely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
a good apprehension of how computer systems work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apprehension
Few details about his apprehension are available, though IMPD said drones helped with the search.
—
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025
The official tying of the Apple TV-F1 knot arrives with a little apprehension.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Banking stocks were hit hard, with positive earnings reports in the sector unable to offset the apprehension.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Alone in Norfolk with three kids at home, Pugh stared down the approaching pay day with apprehension.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025
The official tying of the Apple TV-F1 knot arrives with a little apprehension.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Banking stocks were hit hard, with positive earnings reports in the sector unable to offset the apprehension.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Alone in Norfolk with three kids at home, Pugh stared down the approaching pay day with apprehension.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension
Noun
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Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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Imagine not suffering existential dread over Tilly Norwood; imagine the freedom to choose to use AI for interstitial shots without kicking the Letterboxd hornets’ nest, as did the brothers Cairnes with Late Night With the Devil back in 2024.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In addition, immigration arrests at the courthouse have drawn criticism from many immigration advocates and local officials, who fear the tactic deters people from showing up for court.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Manzo often posted announcements of new arrests on his Facebook page, along with pleas to Sheinbaum’s government for better security in the face of crime and extortion in his city.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Despite the occasional mutual love, progressives have argued that Sliwa has previously stoked racist fears and encouraged vigilante aggression.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Glossier is supporting other alumni of its 5-year-old grant program this year because of the challenges so many of these emerging brands are facing—and despite political fear among many other companies to keep these kinds of programs going.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In a similar vein, Timnit Gebru, a computer scientist writing during her time working at Google, warned of the dangers of large language models acting as stochastic parrots, which repeat language patterns without understanding, and in doing so replicate the biases embedded in their training data.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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From sourcing materials domestically to designing heaters that require no electricity, the company’s practices reflect an understanding that environmental responsibility often begins at home, in how things are built, maintained, and valued.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For Dillon Robertson, 32, money is a constant worry.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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The latter film was made based on the confessions of young people living in Latvia who openly spoke of patronizing teachers and parents, worries for the future and fears over fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.—
Will Tizard,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The deployment has also raised concerns about racial profiling, wrongful arrests, and political pressure on law enforcement to align with federal immigration crackdowns.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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He was included on the short list of presidential candidates in 2022 when Democrats started airing concerns about then-President Joe Biden's ability to run for a second term.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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TikTok users were quick to share their admiration for Fern’s newfound appreciation for her treatment.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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Dead Poets Society starred Hawke as one of several boarding school students under the tutelage of a sensitive new English teacher, John Keating (Williams), who imbues his pupils with a newfound appreciation for poetry.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That driving tension and anxiety are largely thanks to the team of artisans, which included composer Volker Bertelmann, editor Kirk Baxter and sound designer Paul Ottosson, who worked closely behind the scenes on their respective crafts to bring it together.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
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That sense of anxiety is present throughout the book, most vividly in a wide shot of a group of cheerleaders rehearsing in a gym.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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