His new theory is beyond my apprehension.
Source: tatoeba (286836)
Apprehension
/æp.ɹiˈhɛn.ʃən/
Synonyms for "apprehension" (243 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (49)
Noun(12 words)
abductionacquaintanceagitationalarmall oversall-oversangstanticipationanxietyanxiety hysteriaanxiety neurosisanxious benchanxious concernanxious seatanxiousnessapprehensivenessarrestarrestationarrestingarrestment
Show 17 more words
bodingbustcalibercalibratecankerworm of carecapacitycapturecarecatchcatchingclairvoyancecliff hangingcliff-hangingcollaringcommandcomprehensionconceit
Strong matches (73)
conceptconceptionconceptualizationconcernconcernmentcoupdeductive powerdetentiondiffidencedismaydisquietdisquietudedistressdistrustdistrustfulnessdisturbancedoubtdoubtfulnessdragnetdread
Show 36 more words
dubietydubiousnessesemplastic powerexpectant waitingexpectationfaithfancyfearforcible seizureforebodingforebodingnessforeknowledgefrightgrabgrabbinggraspgriphalf-beliefholdhorrorideaidealideationimageimagoimpressioninquietudeintegrative powerintellectintellectionintellectual graspintellectual objectintellectual powerintellectualismintellectualityintelligence
Noun(14 words)
concernconcern parentsdetentiondiscernmentdreaddreadingfear for safetyfear thatfearfulnessfearingfeeling anxiousgeneral anxietygraspgrasps
Verb(2 words)
fear the consequencesfear the unknown
Adjective(1 words)
high anxiety
Related words (121)
intelligence quotientiqjitterskidnappingknowledgeleerinessmalaisemasterymemory-tracemental agemental capacitymental graspmental imagemental impressionmental ratiomentalitymisdoubtmisgivingmistrustmistrustfulness
Show 92 more words
mother witnabnabbingnative witnervenervous strainnervous tensionnervousnessnettingnoticenotionobservationopinionoveranxietypanicperceptionperturbationpessimismphobiapicking uppickuppinchpins and needlespossessionpower grabpower of mindprecautionprecognitionprehensionpremonitionprenotionpresagepresentimentpuckerpyrrhonismqualmqualmishnessquestionrationalityrealizationreasoning powerreceptreflectionreliancerepresentationrunning insanitysavvyscope of mindscruplescrupulousnessseizureseizure of powerself-doubtsensesentimentshadow of doubtskepticalnessskepticismsnatchsnatchingsolicitudestewstrainsuppositionsuspensesuspicionsuspiciousnesstaking intaking into custodytensiontheorythinking powerthoughttotal skepticismtroubletrustunbeliefuncertaintyunderstandinguneaseuneasinessunquietnessupsetvexationviewwaitingwarinesswisdomwitworryzeal
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: arrest, misgiving, understanding, abduction, acquaintance.
- Sentence evidence is available for apprehension, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "apprehension".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "apprehension"
Keep "apprehension" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "apprehension" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "apprehension", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "apprehension" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entriesacademic apprehensiongeneral apprehensiongreat apprehensionheightened apprehensionpersistent apprehensionstudent apprehension
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
11 translations across 7 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- хва́щане noun (seizure)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 捕捉 noun (seizure)
Dutch
1 entries- grijpen noun (seizure)
Finnish
1 entries- ottaminen noun (seizure)
German
4 entries- Anfassen noun (seizure)
- Ergreifen noun (seizure)
- Fassen noun (seizure)
- Greifen noun (seizure)
Portuguese
1 entries- apreensão noun (seizure)
Russian
1 entries- хвата́ние noun (seizure)
Sample sentences
17 total sentences available.
He detected in her voice a note of apprehension.
Source: tatoeba (302816)
Such employments as warfare, politics, public worship, and public merrymaking, are felt, in the popular apprehension, to differ intrinsically from the labour that has to do with elaborating the material means of life.
Source: tatoeba (425476)
His apprehension greatly hinders his progress.
Source: tatoeba (561185)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "apprehension"?
Closest matches include arrest, misgiving, understanding, abduction, acquaintance.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "apprehension"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.