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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apprehension
That doesn’t mean that Rachel’s apprehension is off the mark, though.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
However, this apprehension is balanced by an awareness that the internet could bring practical benefits, including those in the realms of commerce, medicine and education.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
At the southwest border, agents made 6,603 apprehensions in February, a figure the agency said is 92% lower than the monthly average over the past three decades and 97% below the peak of the Biden administration in December 2023.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Planning the trip, however, filled me with apprehension.
—Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
However, this apprehension is balanced by an awareness that the internet could bring practical benefits, including those in the realms of commerce, medicine and education.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026
At the southwest border, agents made 6,603 apprehensions in February, a figure the agency said is 92% lower than the monthly average over the past three decades and 97% below the peak of the Biden administration in December 2023.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Planning the trip, however, filled me with apprehension.
—Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension
Noun
-
His dread turned to panic when Hochheiser, 79, was unloaded at Villa Rosa III, a 48-bed assisted living home with peeling paint, burglar bars, barren planters and a history of poor care.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
All have lost permission to work legally, a right most had while pursuing their asylum claims, compounding the worry and dread that has rippled through immigrant communities.—
Molly A. Wallace,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The police department has forwarded an affidavit in support of his arrest to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, which will consider whether to file charges against him.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Espinoza is expected to testify again, and jurors will be shown video footage of another interview with Horner taken a few days after his arrest.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This new strategy recognized that neighborhood fear is not just driven by crimes; it is also driven by neighborhood disorder.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For the Supreme Court to do so would require it to repudiate the Constitution’s text, the Court’s own precedents, and the enduring understanding of all three branches and of the American people.—
David Cole,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Law enforcement who responded to the scene of the crisis like Jeff Boyes, a SWAT team member and sniper, operated with a similar initial understanding.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At a recent seven-hour legislative meeting, Nevadans complained to lawmakers about the noise data centers produce, and their worries about how the centers will affect water supply and energy bills.—
Jessica Hill,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Memories of the pandemic and worries about crime were still fresh, and the 120,000-square-foot building was vacant.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even before the Iran war sent gas prices soaring, many Americans were still recovering from the pandemic-era inflation spike and continued to cite affordability as a major concern.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Another Antarctic species -- the Southern elephant seal -- is also now at risk of extinction due to bird flu, moving from least concern to vulnerable, according to researchers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And on Friday, the cheers before his first at-bat in the top of the first inning were long enough that both plate umpire Chris Segal and Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez stepped away from the plate to allow a sellout crowd of 36,233 to show its appreciation.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Later, when Shell expressed appreciation, Cipriani pitched Star Serenade, initially over the phone — presuming the executive would, at the least, boost its chance for an inside track at a green light.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Amid record anxiety about the future of work—and growing warnings about the potential erosion of white-collar careers—one unlikely field may be getting the last laugh.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Drone use is heavily limited by battery anxiety, but without a battery the use cases really open up.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 05,
New Atlas,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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