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
Relevance
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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By the end of the month, Mercury will clash with Pluto retrograde, forcing intense conversations that bring hidden fears around your work environment and culture, or past experiences that need to be dealt with to the surface.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 June 2025 -
Exploiting this vulnerability, 764 members tend to elicit fear by threatening to share a victim’s explicit or harmful content with family and friends or publicly online, ultimately forcing them to comply with their demands.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
4 June 2025
Noun
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As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2025
-
Does the thought of snakes gliding through the air at frightening speeds fill you with dread?—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Officials have expressed concerns about applicants' online activities, particularly those perceived as hostile to U.S. interests.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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Many of his followers are schoolboys — something that has sparked concern among educators worldwide.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Giving into your kids to avoid your own feelings of stress and anxiety does more harm than good in the long run, says bestselling author and personal growth expert Mel Robbins.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 May 2025
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Millennials courageously started talking openly about therapy, anxiety, and depression, breaking decades of stigma.—
Charell G. Coleman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Because of the outsize anticipation, initial reports of delays and extensive rewrites on Season 2 created worries that the series’ intricate narrative puzzle might implode.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
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There happens to be one available that would help ease any worry about Bosa's injury issues throughout the year.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Noun
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The second important thing to say about the speculation around Doctor Who is that the drama’s key figures — including Gatwa himself — have done little to dispel the sense of unease.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
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Local police are investigating the incident as theft, while Sevnica officials expressed unease, saying Melania's image was never a source of pride for the town.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Due to the competitive landscape and consumer uncertainty, Vivid suspended its habit of providing forward earnings guidance to analysts with that call, adding to the bearish sentiment for Vivid that has yet to let up.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
2 June 2025
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Setting these expectations significantly reduces candidate uncertainty.—
Sherry Martin,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Cuban Americans in south Florida have long clamored for a firmer hand with Havana, and the recent apprehensions of Hernández and several other former Cuban officials for deportation have been extremely popular among the politically powerful exile community.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Other polls from the same period showed similar apprehensions.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Apprehensiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehensiveness. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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