misgivings

noun

plural of misgiving
1
as in doubts
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

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2
as in qualms
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

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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 misgivings There will be controversy, grift and venality, supporters will get lost and lose themselves in a fog of legalese, accounting and abbreviations — VAR, SCR, LOL, FFS — there will be ugliness and misgivings and a lot of meh. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 And Tommy John himself had misgivings about being the name and face of the surgery. — Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 In November 2024, Leo wrote an email to his senior colleague detailing his misgivings about their working relationship, as well as expressing concerns to managers and HR. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 Even Ringwald spoke at length about her misgivings about the film’s problematic elements in a 2018 NPR interview. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026 The opposition Labour Party voted through the bill, despite members’ misgivings. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 Two key Republican senators have expressed misgivings about supporting Blanche's nomination. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 31 July 2026 And both men, despite misgivings among parts of their own populations about their corrupt and authoritarian tendencies, were largely welcomed in the West as reformers and promising economic partners. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 But many women who have become first lady of California and the nation have expressed misgivings about taking on such a role. — Jenny Jarvie follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misgivings
  1. doubts
  2. qualms
  3. suspicions
  4. objections
Noun
  • Before Santos was sworn into office in 2023, doubts about his biography had emerged.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • For Green, and the Warriors (2-0), the victory eliminated any lingering doubts about their season opener last week, a thrilling, 32-26 triple-overtime win against Newbury Park.
    — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of doubts
Noun
  • If Declan Rice is not yet ready to start, Arteta will have no qualms about using Lewis-Skelly in his place.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • No such qualms for IEA, whose membership is dominated by suburban teachers whereas a third of IFT’s membership are Chicago teachers.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of qualms
Noun
  • Instead old habits, suspicions, anger and betrayal reign on both sides.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Newcomers Álvarez and Knight couldn’t be better in their newlywed roles, convincing in their giddy love scenes, their casual affections, their unwanted suspicions and, most of all, their terror at whatever is lurking in the air and in their souls.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspicions
Noun
  • Bessent's remarks came as Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drew objections from other European leaders.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Recently, Capifali helped guide the Johnson administration through a tiff with aldermen who legalized video gambling terminals over the mayor’s objections.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of objections

Browse Nearby Words

misgiving
misgivings
misgovern
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Cite this Entry

“Misgivings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misgivings. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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