Apprehensiveness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv/ ap·pre·hen·sive

Meaning & Definition of Apprehensiveness

Apprehensiveness (adjective)

  1. viewing the future with anxiety or alarm, feeling or showing fear or apprehension about the future
  2. capable of understanding or quick to do so, discerning
  3. having awareness or knowledge of something, cognizant

Apprehensiveness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry
    related: strain, stress, tension, alarm, anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, hand-wringing, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor, angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation, cold feet, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty, compunction, qualm, scruple
    opposite: unconcern
    near: calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, comfort, consolation, relief, solace

  2. suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune

    "my apprehensiveness about raw fish disagreeing with me is keeping me from even trying sushi"

    similar: alarm, apprehension, dread, foreboding, misgiving
    related: agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, concern, disquiet, disquietude, distress, disturbance, fearfulness, funk, perturbation, solicitude, suspense, unease, uneasiness, scruple, worry, doubt, incertitude, mistrust, suspiciousness, uncertainty, wariness, defeatism, pessimism, foreknowledge, premonition, presage, presentiment
    near: anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, confidence, optimism, sanguinity

Related Entry: Apprehensive (adjective)

Apprehensive is a different word from Apprehensiveness. The synonyms below are for apprehensive, not for apprehensiveness.

  1. having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind

    "I'm fully apprehensive of the options, I assure you"

    similar: alive, aware, cognizant, conscious, mindful, sensible, sentient, ware, witting
    related: alert, attentive, careful, cautious, heedful, observant, open-eyed, regardful, safe, vigilant, wary, watchful, wide-awake, hyperaware, hyperconscious
    opposite: insensible, oblivious, unaware, unconscious, unmindful, unwitting
    near: careless, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, unguarded, unheeding, unwary

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Apprehensiveness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Apprehensiveness:

agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry, alarm, dread, foreboding, misgiving

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Apprehensiveness

Words with the opposite meaning of Apprehensiveness:

unconcern

Related Words for Apprehensiveness

strain, stress, tension, anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, hand-wringing, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor, angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation, cold feet, doubt, incertitude, presentiment, suspense

Near Antonyms of Apprehensiveness

calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, comfort, consolation, relief, solace, anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, confidence, optimism, sanguinity

Word Forms of Apprehensiveness

Derived words: apprehensively (adverb), apprehensiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Apprehensiveness

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Apprehensiveness

What does "Apprehensiveness" mean?

"Apprehensiveness" means viewing the future with anxiety or alarm, feeling or showing fear or apprehension about the future. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: viewing the future with anxiety or alarm, feeling or showing fear or apprehension about the future. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Apprehensiveness"?

Other words for "Apprehensiveness" include agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, care, concern and concernment. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Apprehensiveness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Apprehensiveness"?

There are 66 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Apprehensiveness". Common alternatives include agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, care, concern, concernment, disquiet and disquietude.

What is the opposite of "Apprehensiveness"?

Antonyms of "Apprehensiveness" include unconcern. Near antonyms include calm, calmness, content and contentment.

How do you use "Apprehensiveness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Apprehensiveness" in a sentence: "her apprehensiveness about starting college is keeping her awake at night"; "my apprehensiveness about raw fish disagreeing with me is keeping me from even trying sushi".

Is "Apprehensiveness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Apprehensiveness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Apprehensiveness"?

"Apprehensiveness" is pronounced /ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv/ and divided into syllables as ap·pre·hen·sive.

What is the origin of the word "Apprehensiveness"?

First known use: 14th century.