misgiving

noun

mis·​giv·​ing ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ 

: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event

Many people have expressed misgivings about his ability to do the job.

Synonyms

• distrust
• distrustfulness
• doubt
• dubiety
• dubitation [archaic]
• incertitude
• misdoubt
• mistrust
• mistrustfulness
• query
• reservation
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty

Examples of misgiving in a Sentence

I felt some misgiving about his ability to do the job.

They regarded the plan with misgiving.

Recent Examples on the Web

Johnson thought this sounded implausible, but, despite his misgivings, the couple signed a yearlong advertising contract with the Knot, for five thousand eight hundred dollars. —Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025

Cooperman expressed both support and misgivings about the direction President Donald Trump has taken while pursuing tariffs against U.S. trading partners. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025

So young animal researchers with misgivings are told to keep quiet. —Celia Ford, Vox, 3 Mar. 2025

But the libertarian-leaning Paul was not the only Republican to express misgivings. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for misgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• forgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

misgiving

noun

mis·​giv·​ing (ˈ)mis-ˈgiv-iŋ 

: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event