APPREHENSION Synonyms: 145 Similar and Opposite Words

apprehension

noun

ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-shən

Definition of apprehension

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 That apprehension was reflected in the mood of voters in Moscow on a cold, crisp September day a week before the elections. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 Licata in particular prepared for apprehension from the moment TEA Commissioner Mike Morath appointed him as the district’s leader. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026 Police also said Myisha Donaldson, 47, was arrested and charged with one count of obstruction of apprehension or prosecution in relation to the shooting. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026 Not having been to the dinner before, the couple was filled with a mix of excitement tinged with apprehension. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehension

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension

Noun

Artificial is pointedly funnier than his other work, including a large comedic performance by Ike Barinholtz as Musk, even as an existential dread permeates.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Audiences can expect natural richness, such as underwater images of glistening shellfish, to encounter ecological dread.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

David Peck, Pourharton’s attorney, told the Town Plan and Zoning Commission that his client’s business has created no reason for rejecting the request, noting that GG hasn’t been the scene of arrests or police activity.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
The spacing between officers tightens when arrests take place.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrest

Noun

Residents say Ethiopian federal forces retook Mekelle’s airport from Tigrayan fighters, but communications blackouts and fear of reprisals have left unclear who controls Tigray’s capital city.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
The book offers creative ways to manage fear and negativity — like pretend-flushing your mistakes down the toilet — before, during and after a high-stakes task.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

Reports of Muse sharing a user’s home address with a prospective buyer and accessing private messages despite the user’s understanding of permissions illustrate those concerns.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
And over time, interest from generalists in understanding and treating opioid use disorder does appear to have increased, Bagley said.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of understanding

Noun

Thankfully, my worries turned out to be unfounded, because the talent show in this episode turns out to be her time to shine.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
The agency faces a $9-billion loss, a looming cash crunch and election-year worries over late mail ballots; Steiner urged voters to send ballots a week early.

— Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

And three, sometimes four, of those many waking hours are spent in the car — bouncing from home to school to her second or third job and home again — with music at full blast to drown out the babble of anxiety, most of it financial.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
This can help decrease anxiety and increase confidence by removing the pressure of one ideal performance and shifting focus to the present moment.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

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apprehensible

apprehension

apprehensions

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“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of apprehension

noun

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