apprehension

noun

ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-shən How to pronounce apprehension (audio)
Definition of apprehensionnext
1
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune the hikers entered the dark cave with a great deal of apprehension

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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

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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

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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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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 apprehension Reuters reports that police accelerated their apprehension of the suspects after one visited another museum, sparking concerns that a second theft was nigh. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026 Lula supporters gathered in a downtown Rio de Janeiro plaza cheered as the results came in, but also voiced apprehension about the runoff. — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026 Read on to find out more about how DLSS works (and some early apprehensions about its latest release). — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026 All 25 models showed signs of internal coding that were specific to personally painful situations and were distinct from other negative contexts, like frustration or apprehension. — New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension
  1. dread
  2. arrest
  3. fear
  4. understanding
  5. worry
  6. concern
  7. appreciation
  8. anxiety
Noun
  • If that fills you with dread, don't worry — Kacy Paide has advice.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Congress has recently presented legislation to resolve the chaos, although the involvement of politicians produces more dread than hope.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dread
Noun
  • All four were booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall following their arrests, the Police Department said in a statement.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In recent days, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have made arrests and taken people away in her Wasco neighborhood.
    — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrest
Noun
  • Fortune recently reported on wealthy parents’ growing fear that their fortunes will sap their children’s drive.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Coupled with job-displacement fears from AI, opponents now point to the facilities as a physical symbol of who benefits from the boom and who gets stuck with the bill.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Kim Hong-Cheol, the South Korean military official, said leaving the dispute over the military demarcation line unresolved would increase the risk of accidental clashes because troops from both sides act on their own understanding of the line.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Communications leaders can help organisations anticipate the expectations those decisions will need to meet, bringing an understanding of customer concerns and public trust into the discussion before commitments are made.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of understanding
Noun
  • There are so many organizations working to protect the voting process -- including many that cannot legally coordinate with each other -- that some officials involved worry about unintentionally creating chaos outside polling locations.
    — STEVE PEOPLES, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Those talks collapsed over price and worries about antitrust pushback, neither of which hold true today.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Carter also expressed concern about taking action that could disenfranchise eligible voters and create chaos.
    — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The home has always been cluttered but apparently it’s gotten to a point of concern.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of concern
Noun
  • Trump has also been chastened into a more realistic appreciation of Beijing’s power.
    — Ali Wyne, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Treating your partner with respect and appreciation can strengthen your bond and help both of you feel more secure in an uncertain world.
    — Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of appreciation
Noun
  • Research has also found that across generational groups, greater user tendency to engage in social comparison, together with greater maladaptive ways of coping with emotions, is associated with more symptoms of anger, anxiety, and depression.
    — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The market for profiting off male body anxiety is nothing new.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of anxiety

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apprehension
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Cite this Entry

“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on apprehension

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about apprehension

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