apprehensiveness

noun

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

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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
  1. fear
  2. dread
  3. concern
  4. anxiety
  5. worry
  6. apprehension
  7. unease
  8. uncertainty
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
  • The line between dread and pleasure within the realm of the temporally-uncanny is a fine one.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Royals, who has typically sported some of the team’s most stylish hair, cut his dreads last week.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of dread
Noun
  • Businesses have previously voiced concern about the concentration of power in the two main payment providers.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Using public warnings to create concern among subscribers is an unnecessary pressure tactic.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of concern
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
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
  • But the recent drone attacks and the Polish government’s efforts to prepare the population for further serious incidents have brought a new sense of apprehension — and also confusion — among locals.
    — Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 29 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, New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of apprehension
Noun
  • When presented together and thought juxtapositionally, the works launch visitors onto an emotional pendulum that pivots from exhilaration to unease and distress.
    — Tina M. Campt, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The survey quantifies the sense of unease and frustration many customers of these new-wave insurers feel.
    — Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unease
Noun
  • That adds to the uncertainty about the future balance of the five-network pool.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Zak Bennett | Bloomberg | Getty Images Stock markets remain volatile as investors weigh uncertainty in the Middle East, rising interest rates and concerns about the artificial intelligence (AI) trade.
    — TipRanks Staff, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncertainty
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.

Browse Nearby Words

apprehensively
apprehensiveness
apprentice
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Cite this Entry

“Apprehensiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensiveness. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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