1
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
her apprehensiveness about starting college is keeping her awake at night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
my apprehensiveness about raw fish disagreeing with me is keeping me from even trying sushi
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehensiveness
Noun
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Eyes wide, panting near panic, Foster perfectly captures the audience's own fear of being alone in the dark with a monster.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026 -
Iran’s neighbors, particularly Turkey and Iraq, are preparing contingency plans including border fortifications and refugee shelters amid fears of a potential crisis.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This collection hums with multiracial dread, and explores the nuances of family making outside hegemony.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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One gets the sense, reading DuBois, that Stanton’s fervor for political action stemmed from a dread of being governed by idiots.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Federal officers have used administrative warrants to do so, raising concerns that constitutional protections are being skirted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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The new legislation attempts to address some of those concerns.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The president is fighting against historical headwinds for the party in power and, like President Joe Biden before him, is navigating voter anxiety about the cost of living in America.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Mar. 2026
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In a year where anxiety over studio contraction and the rise of artificial intelligence often consumed the industry, both films gave Hollywood fresh hope.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Guests also have access to a private sauna, complete with essential oils to help melt your worries away.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
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My worry was whether Annie really wanted to be associated with my little book.—
Meredith Maran,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There is growing apprehension in Kyiv that the conflict in the Middle East will divert attention, and weapons, from the war that has engulfed Ukraine for the past four years.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
15 Mar. 2026
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Ropp understood Scollins’ apprehension.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Polling suggests unease about the dramatic way Trump has imposed the levies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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With growing unease in the US about the war and its economic impact on ordinary citizens, Trump has been forced to change tack in recent days.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Meteorologists did their job but the alarm got carried away, highlighting the need for better communication of uncertainty.—
Jason Samenow,
Washington Post,
17 Mar. 2026
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The start of the fifth season brings a mixture of excitement and uncertainty to Angel City FC, with this being the first full season under Straus, who officially took over last June.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Apprehensiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensiveness. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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