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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Apprehensive

/ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnsɪv/ · adjective

Meaning

Anticipating something with anxiety, fear, or doubt; reluctant..

Definitions by Sense

  1. Anticipating something with anxiety, fear, or doubt; reluctant.
  2. (obsolete) Perceptive; quick to learn; capable of understanding using one's intellect.
  3. (grammar) A mood indicating an undesired outcome.

Example Sentences

This convinc'd me that there was no going on Shore for us in the Night upon that Coaſt, and how to venture on Shore in the Day was another Queſtion too; for to have fallen into the Hands of any of the Savages, had been as bad as to have fallen into the Hands of Lyons and Tygers; at leaſt we were equally apprehenſive of the Danger of it.
But Claggart's was no vulgar form of the passion. Nor, as directed toward Billy Budd, did it partake of that streak of apprehensive jealousy that marred Saul's visage perturbedly brooding on the comely young David. Claggart's envy struck deeper.
Never before in his life had Dan Holland feared anything, but now he was apprehensive for the safety of this trim blond creature before him.
More fond of Miracles, than apprehensive of Truth.
In 16.66 the non-visual apprehensive is used with the third-person.

Synonyms for apprehensive

uneasyperceptivediscerninganxious

Antonyms for apprehensive

Related Words

anxiousafraiduneasydiscerningperceptiveworriedtroubledscaredfearfultimidconcernednervousfrightenedagitatedwarypanickytensealarmedjitteryedgy

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does apprehensive mean?

Apprehensive means Anticipating something with anxiety, fear, or doubt; reluctant..

What is a synonym for apprehensive?

Common synonyms include uneasy, perceptive, discerning, anxious.

What is the opposite of apprehensive?

The opposite depends on the specific sense.

How do you use apprehensive in a sentence?

This convinc'd me that there was no going on Shore for us in the Night upon that Coaſt, and how to venture on Shore in the Day was another Queſtion too; for to have fallen into the Hands of any of the Savages, had been as bad as to have fallen into the Hands of Lyons and Tygers; at leaſt we were equally apprehenſive of the Danger of it.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.