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

Despite legitimate misgivings about Biden’s approach, a majority of my GOP colleagues appreciated that support for Ukraine is an investment in U.S. national security. —Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024

Two other controversial Trump Cabinet picks remain magnets for public misgivings. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2024

Labor’s large House of Commons majority means lawmakers will almost certainly vote Tuesday to send the bill on for further scrutiny, despite Conservative misgivings. —Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024

Hannah, unlike Brittany, persevered despite her misgivings. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

misgiving

noun

mis·​giv·​ing (ˈ)mis-ˈgiv-iŋ 

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