APPREHEND Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

apprehend

verb

ˌa-pri-ˈhend

Definition of apprehend

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of do you apprehend the importance of this discovery?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to arrest

to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the agency charged with apprehending criminals who have violated federal law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of apprehend Aguirre was apprehended last month in Venezuela, and Patel subsequently told lawmakers the FBI had captured one of the nation's top fugitives. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 The video includes the search of Mangione's bag when he was apprehended at an Altoona McDonald's, the retrieval of the murder weapon and Mangione's transport in a squad car. — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 Moscow’s citywide facial recognition system, deployed across 200,000 cameras, was used to identify and apprehend protesters during the 2021 antigovernment demonstrations. — Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026 After being apprehended in Syria, she was transferred to FBI custody in January 2022. — Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehend

Verb

If a degree needs to equip students for life outside of college, then a big part of that is understanding what employers are looking for.

— Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
In addition to developing better medicines or perfumes, deciphering the mirror images of molecules can help scientists understand the chemical architecture of life, said chemist Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the journal Science.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

The teen and his parents were contacted by police Tuesday, and he was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
He was arrested about 20 miles south of his hometown in East Palestine, Ohio, where police were conducting a prostitution sting at a mobile home park.

— Erick Mendoza, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrest

Verb

Can the letter writer let sister know her fuss over food and product choices for 4-year-old nephew is hard to watch?

— Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
Speaking of nail-biters, Marisa Berenson, better known for her roles in front of the camera, is in the process of putting together her own movie project.

— Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Oviedo also alleged that bundles of cash seized from an ambulance leaving Mariaca’s home in the city of Santa Cruz early Thursday were proceeds of extortion targeting people who sought help from prosecutors.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Azerbaijan has denied these allegations, but the country is a major oil supplier to Israel, which might be enough to push Tehran to try to seize Nakhichevan, an Azerbaijani exclave on the Iranian border.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

Unfortunately, the average consumer doesn’t have the knowledge necessary to comprehend and act on those results.

— Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
The resulting consequences to the information ecosystem are hard to comprehend, with Brown Brothers Media claiming to vacuum up tens of millions of views via their scheme.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of comprehend

Verb

If a student is detained or deported, college officials must try to help the student retain their eligibility for financial aid, research funding, housing stipends and other benefits the student was awarded, per the state policy.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
All five, as well as a sixth suspect detained later, were released on bail.

— Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of detain

Verb

The credit ecosystem will continue to recognize these human achievements, while finding ways to appropriately recognize the contributions of their AI collaborators.

— Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Williamson was recognized for his role in organizing the Dawson’s Creek table read held to support Van Der Beek following his colon cancer diagnosis.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of recognize

Browse Nearby Words

appreciatory

apprehend

apprehended

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehend. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of apprehend

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes