Misgiving — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ/ mis·giv·ing

Meaning & Definition of Misgiving

Misgiving (noun)

  1. a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event

Misgiving (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something

    "I had misgivings about the alleged victim's story, but I was afraid to speak up"

    similar: distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubitation (archaic), incertitude, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty
    related: disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness, compunction, niggle (chiefly British), qualm, scruple, tremor
    opposite: assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust
    near: credence, faith

  2. an uneasy feeling about the rightness of what one is doing or going to do

    "he was filled with misgivings about committing himself to such a huge loan"

    similar: compunction, qualm, scruple
    related: conscience, distrust, doubt, dubiety, incertitude, misdoubt, mistrust, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty, qualmishness, unease, uneasiness, reluctance, unwillingness, demur, fuss, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, aversion, disinclination, indisposition, guilt, regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame, contrition, penitence, repentance
    near: aplomb, assurance, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness

  3. suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune

    "overcome by a sudden misgiving upon seeing the creepy old mansion"

    similar: alarm, apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding
    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

Misgiving (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in foreboding

    similar: foreboding, bothersome, troublesome, discouraging, disheartening, strained, agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome, restive, unrestful, awkward, embarrassing
    opposite: calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil, restful, pacific

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Misgiving

The most common words with a similar meaning to Misgiving:

Archaic: dubitation
distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, incertitude, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, compunction, qualm, scruple, alarm, apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, bothersome, troublesome, discouraging, disheartening, strained, agitating, anxious, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking, nervous, restless, tense

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Misgiving

Words with the opposite meaning of Misgiving:

assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust, calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil, restful, pacific

Related Words for Misgiving

disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness, niggle, tremor, conscience, uncertainness, qualmishness, unease, uneasiness, reluctance, unwillingness, demur, fuss, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, aversion, disinclination, indisposition, guilt, regret, remorse, self-reproach, shame

Near Antonyms of Misgiving

credence, faith, aplomb, self-assurance, self-confidence, anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, optimism, sanguinity

Origin & Etymology of Misgiving

First known use: 1582

Frequently Asked Questions about Misgiving

What does "Misgiving" mean?

"Misgiving" means a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Misgiving"?

Other words for "Misgiving" include distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, misdoubt and mistrust. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Misgiving" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Misgiving"?

There are 101 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Misgiving". Common alternatives include distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness and query.

What is the opposite of "Misgiving"?

Antonyms of "Misgiving" include assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness and surety. Near antonyms include credence, faith, aplomb and self-assurance.

How do you use "Misgiving" in a sentence?

Examples of "Misgiving" in a sentence: "I had misgivings about the alleged victim's story, but I was afraid to speak up"; "he was filled with misgivings about committing himself to such a huge loan"; "overcome by a sudden misgiving upon seeing the creepy old mansion".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Misgiving"?

"Misgiving" is pronounced /ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ/ and divided into syllables as mis·giv·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Misgiving"?

First known use: 1582.