apprehension

[ap-ri-hen-shuhn]

noun

1. anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.

   Synonyms: suspicion, uneasiness, worry, alarm
   Antonyms: tranquility, composure

2. the faculty or act of apprehending or understanding; perception on a direct and immediate level.

3. acceptance of or receptivity to information without passing judgment on its validity, often without complete comprehension.

4. a view, opinion, or idea on any subject.

5. the act of arresting; seizure.

   Police apprehension of the burglar was aided by two alert teenagers.

   Synonyms: capture
   Antonyms: release

apprehension

/ ˌæprɪˈhɛnʃən /

noun

1. fear or anxiety over what may happen

2. the act of capturing or arresting

3. the faculty of comprehending; understanding

4. a notion or conception

Other Word Forms

• nonapprehension noun
• overapprehension noun
• preapprehension noun
• reapprehension noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of apprehension¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin apprehēnsiōn-, stem of apprehēnsiō, from apprehēns(us) “grasped” (past participle of apprehendere “to grasp”; apprehend ) + -iō -ion

Synonym Study

Apprehension, anxiety, misgiving imply an unsettled and uneasy state of mind. Apprehension is an active state of fear, usually of some danger or misfortune: apprehension before opening a telegram. Anxiety is a somewhat prolonged state of apprehensive worry: anxiety because of a reduced income. Misgiving implies a dubious uncertainty or suspicion, as well as uneasiness: to have misgivings about the investment.

Example Sentences

He also has longstanding apprehensions about using the military for possible regime change.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“In the original piece, the source material, there is this real apprehension and fear of scandal,” says Thompson.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Though the streamer’s history of glamorizing and heightening heinous acts isn’t necessarily indicative of the quality of “The Perfect Neighbor,” it does cloud the documentary’s release with apprehension.

Read more on Salon

Kate Feeney, a financial planner at Summit Place Financial, said clients are “mostly very pleased with performance” but “there’s an apprehension whether this can continue.”

Read more on MarketWatch

ICE apprehensions of people merely appearing to be an immigrant – a tactic that was recently given the blessing of the Supreme Court – is an example of their alienlike status.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• alarm 
• disquiet 
• doubt 
• dread 
• foreboding 
• misgiving 
• mistrust 
• suspicion 
• trepidation 
• uneasiness www.thesaurus.com
• worry