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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apprehension
Nevertheless, any move by Germany toward the acquisition of nuclear weapons would be imaginable only in close consultation and concert with other European states, first and foremost Poland, where a nuclear-armed Germany would cause the most apprehension.
—
Florence Gaub, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
There’s a moment in the final pages of the Voyage when Darwin implies that his apprehension of the magnitude of time comes to him through a kind of via negativa, that Desert Fathers practice of seeking God by stripping away all that is comprehensible and then watching to see what remains.
—Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Despite resident apprehension and pushback over the years, Lenexa continues to march westward with its development.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2025
The discount indicates investor apprehension regarding BP’s evolving strategy, declining earnings, and structural obstacles.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Florence Gaub, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
There’s a moment in the final pages of the Voyage when Darwin implies that his apprehension of the magnitude of time comes to him through a kind of via negativa, that Desert Fathers practice of seeking God by stripping away all that is comprehensible and then watching to see what remains.
—Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Despite resident apprehension and pushback over the years, Lenexa continues to march westward with its development.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2025
The discount indicates investor apprehension regarding BP’s evolving strategy, declining earnings, and structural obstacles.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension
Noun
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Together with folklore professor Yeom Hae-sang (Oh Jung-se), San-yeong comes to understand both her own grief and the trauma death leaves behind as Revenant embraces the quiet, brooding dread that makes Korean horror genuinely unnerving.—
Geoffrey Bunting,
Time,
1 Aug. 2025
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Tim’s family trauma, while prompting some delightfully repulsive SFX, seems to exist only for that reason, or to give the film an additional whiff of dread.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Alec Hegge, 31, worked with children on the autism spectrum at Changing Lives Behavior Analysis, Inc. in Anderson prior to his July 24 arrest.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
25 July 2025
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Willis has been free on his $100,000 bond since shortly after his March 2025 arrest.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Concerns of fear growing in migrant communities Mora said this issue runs deep for him and others who work in immigration law.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
23 July 2025
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Lean Into Peer Support A mental obstacle holding leaders back is avoiding support or peer groups out of fear of sharing ideas.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
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Press Releases 2025 Quantum computings rapid rise is a risk to cybersecurity and business stability The remainder of 2025 will witness a range of both new and old cyberthreats as cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing develop in functionality and understanding.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Her goal of expanding Tax IQ’s reach to underserved communities globally reflects an understanding that technology can scale impact in ways that traditional service delivery cannot.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Panicked finds Maron returning to familiar subjects, treating them like beloved worry dolls of comedic setups.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
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Minnesota Twins – Faced with formidable financial worries, the former home of Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Jim Kaat spent the deadline dumping salaries.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The report found that concerns were often handled informally without adequate record-keeping, and that freelance staff felt reluctant to complain due to job insecurity.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 July 2025
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In seconds, content appears without shipping or physical storage concerns.—
Vikrant Shaurya,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Their 11-year-old daughter, Jasmine, made thank you cards with big hearts and notes of appreciation for all the support.—
Bahar Anooshahr,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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And across other side of the field, there’s a great appreciation for what Ohtani is doing.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
22 July 2025
Noun
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Poor gut health can, in turn, exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
29 July 2025
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One parent who spoke to IndyStar said that their rising third grader is dealing with stress and anxiety over passing the test, especially while trying to get the proper help for their severe dyslexia.—
Caroline Beck,
IndyStar,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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