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
At all The middle distribution of Gen-Z’s feelings about AI range from apprehension to downright hatred.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Both of Kahan’s parents appear in the film, as well as his three siblings; his mother and father seem to regard their son with a reasonable mix of wonder and apprehension.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Affordability issues explain part of the apprehension; increasingly, young people have been priced out of the housing market, breeding a resentment that erodes faith in institutions — and in capitalism itself.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Your Anxiety Is Reducing Sleep Quality Stress, anxiety, worry, and apprehension can interfere with your sleep.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Both of Kahan’s parents appear in the film, as well as his three siblings; his mother and father seem to regard their son with a reasonable mix of wonder and apprehension.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Affordability issues explain part of the apprehension; increasingly, young people have been priced out of the housing market, breeding a resentment that erodes faith in institutions — and in capitalism itself.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Your Anxiety Is Reducing Sleep Quality Stress, anxiety, worry, and apprehension can interfere with your sleep.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension
Noun
-
The many leaps in time to the wedding—to which Ruben shows up on a motorcycle, angry enough to knock his brother out with a single punch—consistently ratchet up the sense of dread, and the suspense over why or how these two have stayed enmeshed.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
He has been held without bond since his arrest on April 22.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Even before his arrest, there were signs that the Emirates was becoming less tolerant toward major criminals.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Future Hall of Fame QBs are built to block out fear and bury doubt.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.—
Albinson Linares,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a lack of humility, a lack of dignity, a lack of understanding of the world, a lack of embracing other perspectives.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Essentially, the Patriots are adding a bunch of elite athletes with the understanding and confidence that their coaching staff will get the most out of them.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prices surged overnight on worries that the war will affect the flow of crude for a long time.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Wall Street’s strength followed manic swings in the oil market, where prices surged overnight on worries that the Iran war will affect the flow of crude for a long time.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The front office also faced growing concerns about whether Reese’s presence would deter the signing of returning veterans and key free agents the Sky had targeted.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Mercury in your 2nd House of Values keeps practical concerns active.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The series’ earnestly naïve sound design (horses neighing, cars revving) only enhanced my appreciation of Joudrey’s sophisticated storytelling.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Among the many paying tribute to Thomas were those whose appreciation stretched back through his long career to his family roots in the thriving Yiddish theater scene of early 20th-century America.—
Penny Schwartz,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Incoming college freshmen are easy targets for people looking to profit from anxiety about loneliness, which the former US Surgeon General called an epidemic.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Maygen says Paisley has struggled with anxiety ever since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 2 years old.—
Nicki Cox,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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