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
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 -
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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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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Of the eight which were understood at the time to be complaints or concerns: four were raised to both the production company and the BBC, two were raised only with the production company and two were raised only with the BBC.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
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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Here are seven alternative activities to try that experts say can be just as effective: Research shows that expressive art therapy, like painting, may help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem, and improve mood by engaging areas of the brain that promote calm.—
Noma Nazish,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
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Driving this new trend, brokers and builders agree, is a potent mix of global anxiety and cultural influence.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 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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Some lawmakers have said worries over U.S. stockpiles running low don't justify cutting off Ukraine's weapons.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Dave Bautista gives a quietly mesmerizing performance as Leonard—a hulking figure whose soft-spoken gentleness only heightens the unease—joined by a scruffily unnerving Rupert Grint and wrenching turns from Ben Aldridge and Jonathan Groff as the parents.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
29 July 2025
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Yet my unease must be a tiny fraction of that of men from either side on the ground that night.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
27 July 2025
Noun
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Some executives said that the impending uncertainty of the 2026 offseason made organizations proactively get their coaches in place for a year first, before the flurry of player movement. WNBA coaches come from all over.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
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Adding to the uncertainty, President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on several countries as Friday’s deadline arrived.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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What began with her apprehension about how the kitten would adapt quickly turned into a delightful surprise.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
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Lawrence Police Department's pursuit policy Indiana's statewide police pursuit policy adopted in 2022 states officers should use their discretion when initiating a pursuit and should not pursue if the risk to public safety greatly outweighs the need for immediate apprehension.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Apprehensiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensiveness. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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