apprehensively

adverb

as in anxiously

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 apprehensively This show of sweetness fighting back against a sense of hopelessness builds an apprehensively brighter perspective than earlier work. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehensively
  1. anxiously
  2. uneasily
  3. uncomfortably
Adverb
  • What exactly are you supposed to do for those full seven days before a trip besides anxiously waiting to check into your flight?
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Nelza Moktan anxiously sought information about her missing cousin, who also worked as a driver in Rasuwa.
    — Victoria Milko, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiously
Adverb
  • The moves are sparking concern on both sides of the Atlantic, while stock markets continue to watch uneasily.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But something about this prospect still sat uneasily with Umaga.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of uneasily
Adverb
  • Oil prices remain uncomfortably high, but the market’s creative solutions have prevented crude from approaching its record high set in 2008.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Love of father and country has, in some sense, been made great again, uncomfortably so, given the political moment.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncomfortably

Browse Nearby Words

apprehensive
apprehensively
apprehensiveness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apprehensively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensively. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of discreet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All