Synonyms of misgiving

misgiving 1 of 2

noun

ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ 

1

as in doubt

a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something

I had misgivings about the alleged victim's story, but I was afraid to speak up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• doubt
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty
• distrust
• mistrust
• concern
• disbelief
• dubiety
• misdoubt
• incertitude
• reservation
• query
• dubitation
• distrustfulness
• incredulity
• mistrustfulness
• unbelief
• paranoia
• qualm
• wariness
• anxiety
• compunction
• tremor
• scruple
• niggle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• belief
• confidence
• trust
• conviction
• assurance
• certainty
• surety
• faith
• certitude
• sureness
• credence

2

as in qualm

an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do

he was filled with misgivings about committing himself to such a huge loan

Synonyms & Similar Words

• doubt
• qualm
• objection
• regret
• compunction
• scruple
• remorse
• guilt
• suspicion
• question
• uncertainty
• skepticism
• unease
• conscience
• distrust
• mistrust
• uneasiness
• reluctance
• reservation
• dubiety
• misdoubt
• protest
• incertitude
• unwillingness
• remonstrance
• uncertainness
• indisposition
• shame
• disinclination
• demur
• contrition
• repentance
• self-reproach
• penitence
• qualmishness
• aversion
• fuss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conviction
• certainty
• assurance
• confidence
• certitude
• sureness
• aplomb
• self-confidence
• self-assurance

3

as in dread

suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune

overcome by a sudden misgiving upon seeing the creepy old mansion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dread
• worry
• concern
• anxiety
• uncertainty
• apprehension
• fearfulness
• unease
• apprehensiveness
• alarm
• doubt
• uneasiness
• foreboding
• disquiet
• suspense
• agitation
• perturbation
• distress
• mistrust
• disquietude
• solicitude
• disturbance
• scruple
• wariness
• pessimism
• funk
• anxiousness
• presentiment
• suspiciousness
• defeatism
• premonition
• incertitude
• foreknowledge
• presage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• excitement
• hope
• anticipation
• confidence
• hopefulness
• optimism
• sanguinity

misgiving

2 of 2

adjective

as in troublesome

Related Words

• troublesome
• foreboding
• bothersome
• discouraging
• nervous
• disquieting
• anxious
• uneasy
• worrisome
• unnerving
• strained
• unsettling
• fraught
• restless
• disheartening
• disturbing
• distressing
• distressful
• tense
• creepy
• embarrassing
• restive
• agitating
• nerve-racking
• unrestful
• nail-biting
• hairy
• awkward

Dissimilar Words

• comfortable
• easy
• quiet
• peaceful
• tranquil
• quieting
• calming
• restful
• pacific

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of misgiving

Noun

Two key Republican senators have expressed misgivings about supporting Blanche's nomination. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 31 July 2026

And both men, despite misgivings among parts of their own populations about their corrupt and authoritarian tendencies, were largely welcomed in the West as reformers and promising economic partners. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026

But many women who have become first lady of California and the nation have expressed misgivings about taking on such a role. — Jenny Jarvie follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

An eminent film critic has written a new analysis of cinema that is propelled by exactly such misgivings. — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026