Synonyms of apprehensive

apprehensive

adjective

ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 

as in aware

having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind

I'm fully apprehensive of the options, I assure you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aware
• conscious
• cognizant
• mindful
• wary
• regardful
• cautious
• sensible
• ware
• sentient
• careful
• watchful
• alive
• vigilant
• witting
• attentive
• observant
• wide-awake
• heedful
• alert
• safe
• open-eyed
• hyperaware
• hyperconscious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unaware
• oblivious
• unconscious
• unmindful
• insensible
• unwitting
• careless
• inattentive
• heedless
• incautious
• unwary
• unguarded
• mindless
• unheeding

Synonym Chooser

How is the word apprehensive different from other adjectives like it?

The words afraid and fearful are common synonyms of apprehensive. While all three words mean "disturbed by fear," apprehensive suggests a state of mind and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

When is it sensible to use afraid instead of apprehensive?

While in some cases nearly identical to apprehensive, afraid often suggests weakness or cowardice and regularly implies inhibition of action or utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

When would fearful be a good substitute for apprehensive?

The words fearful and apprehensive can be used in similar contexts, but fearful implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of apprehensive

Shaw said her own son, Steve, has always been apprehensive about flying. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 2025

Heading into earnings, many on Wall Street remain apprehensive of the stock and are waiting for more proof. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 29 July 2025

Instead, that first apprehensive meeting planted the seeds of Pride Social South County, one of the few groups in southern Santa Clara County dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 28 July 2025

Considering schools have regularly been paying top talents hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of dollars annually, coaches were understandably apprehensive about the clearinghouse review process. —Brendan Marks, New York Times, 24 July 2025