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
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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
Georgetown University students are expected to stage a walkout Tuesday in protest of the apprehension of the graduate student, Bader Khan Suri.
—
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2025
In February, apprehensions at the border dropped below 9,000 for the month, the lowest level since the 1960s.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
There were 32 apprehensions in Laredo on Thursday, six in Yuma, three in Big Bend and two in El Campo.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The university has no additional information at this time about the cause or circumstances of the student's apprehension and is attempting to learn more about the incident.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2025
In February, apprehensions at the border dropped below 9,000 for the month, the lowest level since the 1960s.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
There were 32 apprehensions in Laredo on Thursday, six in Yuma, three in Big Bend and two in El Campo.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The university has no additional information at this time about the cause or circumstances of the student's apprehension and is attempting to learn more about the incident.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehension
Noun
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Our familiar route turned into an obstacle course of dread, and every step toward the school building sent him deeper into a panicked spiral.—
Elizabeth Austin,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
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Once the innie enters the room, it is forced to engage in an activity which coincides with things Gemma fears (going to the dentist, airplane turbulence) or dreads (writing thank-you cards).—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The suspect is now facing charges of assault with bodily injury with a previous conviction, injury to the elderly, continuous violence against family, resisting arrest and terror threat of family, McLennan County Jail records seen by PEOPLE show.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The Trump administration has begun revoking the legal status of migrants who entered the U.S. under a Biden administration process powered by a smartphone app formerly known as CBP One, instructing them to leave the country immediately or face arrest and deportation.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The spread of antivaccine misinformation in the previous year had caused fear and uncertainty, which kept many families from vaccinating their children against measles.—
Dr. Josh Green,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
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By the end of the month, the new moon in Taurus invites you to embrace more intimacy and transformation in your love life, even if that means facing your fears in the process.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Despite the entrenched ethical norms of the legal profession, educational institutions at every level should devise strategies designed to improve the public’s understanding of government and its critical intersection with the rule of law.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Critically, lenders give buyers a big-picture understanding of what their monthly payment will look like under various loan configurations, taking into account sales price tiers, interest rates, property taxes and insurance.—
TC Brown,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Uncontrollable feelings of worry, unease, nervousness, and fear characterize anxiety disorders.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2025
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Inflation, tariff worries drive consumers' outlooks to lowest levels in 12 years What are tariffs?—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Now, in the case of the United States, there’s no concern whatsoever with what anybody thinks on the outside.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
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That’s a major concern for media as advertisers review budgets.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At a fan convention in Los Angeles in 2017, North expressed his appreciation for fans of Dennis the Menace.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Vintage Chicago Tribune: 24 incredible Black Chicagoans Black History Month is almost over, Chicago — but our appreciation for the men and women of this beautiful community continues throughout the year.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Recently announced job cuts at Johns Hopkins University, one of Maryland’s largest employers, and tens of thousands of others across the nation, however, are happening with an unsettling speed and efficiency, leaving countless workers in a state of anxiety, uncertainty and despair.—
Alan M. Langlieb,
Baltimore Sun,
31 Mar. 2025
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They are marketed as an alternative for pain relief, anxiety, and sleep disorders.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehension. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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