Definitions

apprehensive

[ap-ri-hen-siv] / ˌæp rɪˈhɛn sɪv /

ADJECTIVE

anxious, fearful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afraid concerned doubtful jittery jumpy suspicious uncertain uneasy uptight

WEAK

alarmed biting nails butterflies disquieted feel in bones foreboding frozen get vibes have a hunch have cold feet have funny feeling have stage fright hung up in a cold sweat in a dither in a sweat lily-livered mistrustful running scared shaky stiff troubled weak worried worried sick

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm certain clear collected composed confident cool definite easygoing happy laid-back sure unquestionable

WEAK

at ease quiet unafraid undoubting unfearful unsuspicious unworried

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As they are today, customers were apprehensive about new ownership, but Thayer spanned the gap and put them at ease.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

The American people are deeply apprehensive about the impact that artificial intelligence will have on their lives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

But for those of us who feel as if we’ve seen this movie before, it’s hard not to feel awfully apprehensive about how it all ends.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

Emma Little-Pengelly said people in Northern Ireland would be apprehensive about the situation in the Middle East.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Here and there along the road people came out to see the troops go by and there were a few cheers, but most of the people were silent and glum, not hostile, apprehensive.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara

Vocabulary lists containing apprehensive

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

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The Giver

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Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 1

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