If you have misgivings about something that is being suggested or done, you feel that it is not quite right, and are worried that it may have unwanted results.
She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.
The first words of the text filled us with misgiving.
Synonyms: unease, worry, doubt, anxiety More Synonyms of misgiving
misgiving in British English
(mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋ)
noun
(often plural)
a feeling of uncertainty, apprehension, or doubt
misgiving in American English
(ˌmɪsˈgɪvɪŋ)
noun
a disturbed feeling of fear, doubt, apprehension, etc.
usually used in pl.
SIMILAR WORDS: qualm
Word origin
see misgive
Examples of 'misgiving' in a sentence
misgiving
Yet his initial misgivings soon turned to enthusiasm.
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
Many unpaid ministerial aides had expressed deep misgivings.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were not aware of his making any attempt to express misgivings via anonymous channels at the bank.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Does he not feel misgivings about contributing to a system that allows a superior education to be bought?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Slowly, they began opening up about their misgivings regarding the building program.
Christianity Today (2000)
And a reported 25m to ease any possible misgivings he may have harboured.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For all its misgivings about the future the book remains good-humoured.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My misgivings about Driven grew as the show progressed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Fast-forward 12 months and those initial misgivings seem laughable.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Throw in a disappointing 14th on the grid for today and deep misgivings must surely be creeping in.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It meant giving up the chance of going on to university, but after initial misgivings his father gave his support.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The odds last night were tilting towards him surviving, despite some deep misgivings about what he has left to offer.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Despite misgivings about the origin of the pets, many people find it difficult to say no once a puppy is in their arms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
By contrast, it is not uncommon for students on my short counselling courses to express misgivings regarding their own suitability for listening to others.
Pearson, Althea Growing Through Loss and Grief (1994)
I have misgivings about an alliance of countries that differ wildly in their attitudes to fairly important things such as work and financial prudence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And, despite our initial misgivings, it was quite an enjoyable experience.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
misgiving
British English: misgiving NOUN
If you have misgivings about something that is being suggested or done, you feel that it is not quite right, and are worried that it may have unwanted results.
She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.
American English: misgiving
Brazilian Portuguese: pressentimento
Chinese: 疑虑
European Spanish: recelo
French: doute
German: Bedenken
Italian: perplessità
Japanese: 疑い
Korean: 염려
European Portuguese: pressentimento
Latin American Spanish: recelo
Chinese translation of 'misgiving'
misgiving
(mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋ)
n(c/u)
to have misgivings about sth对(對)某事感到担(擔)心 (duì mǒushì gǎndào dānxīn)
to be filled with misgiving about sth对(對)某事疑虑(慮)重重 (duì mǒushì yílǜ chóngchóng)
(noun)
She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.
Synonyms
unease
He tried to appear casual, but he couldn't conquer his unease.
worry
His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.
doubt
They were troubled and full of doubt.
anxiety
His voice was full of anxiety.
suspicion
Our culture harbours deep suspicions of big-time industry.
uncertainty
The magazine ignores all the uncertainties students currently face.
reservation
hesitation
After some hesitation, he answered her question.
distrust
an atmosphere of distrust
apprehension
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
qualm
I had a sudden qualm that all might not be well.
trepidation (formal)
It was with some trepidation that I viewed the prospect.
scruple
a man with no moral scruples
dubiety
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anxiety
Definition
a state of uneasiness about what may happen
His voice was full of anxiety.
Synonyms
uneasiness,
concern,
care,
worry,
doubt,
tension,
alarm,
distress,
suspicion,
angst,
unease,
apprehension,
misgiving,
suspense,
nervousness,
disquiet,
trepidation (formal),
foreboding,
restlessness,
solicitude,
perturbation,
watchfulness,
fretfulness,
disquietude,
apprehensiveness,
dubiety
in the sense of apprehension
Definition
anxiety or dread
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
Synonyms
anxiety,
concern,
fear,
worry,
doubt,
alarm,
suspicion,
dread,
unease,
mistrust,
misgiving,
disquiet,
premonition,
trepidation (formal),
foreboding,
uneasiness,
pins and needles,
apprehensiveness
in the sense of distrust
Definition
a feeling of suspicion or doubt
an atmosphere of distrust
Synonyms
suspicion,
question,
doubt,
disbelief,
scepticism,
mistrust,
misgiving,
qualm,
wariness,
lack of faith,
dubiety
Synonyms of 'misgiving'
misgiving
Explore 'misgiving' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of doubt
Definition
uncertainty about the truth, facts, or existence of something
They were troubled and full of doubt.
Synonyms
uncertainty,
confusion,
hesitation,
dilemma,
scepticism,
misgiving,
suspense,
indecision,
bewilderment,
lack of confidence,
hesitancy,
perplexity,
vacillation,
lack of conviction,
irresolution,
dubiety
in the sense of dubiety
Synonyms
doubtfulness,
doubt,
uncertainty,
scepticism,
mistrust,
misgiving,
qualm,
indecision,
incertitude,
dubiosity
in the sense of hesitation
After some hesitation, he answered her question.
Synonyms
delay,
pausing,
uncertainty,
stalling,
dithering,
indecision,
hesitancy,
doubt,
vacillation,
temporizing,
shilly-shallying,
irresolution,
hemming and hawing,
dubiety,
stumbling,
faltering,
fumbling,
stammering,
stuttering
in the sense of qualm
Definition
a sudden sensation of misgiving
I had a sudden qualm that all might not be well.
Synonyms
misgiving,
doubt,
uneasiness,
regret,
anxiety,
uncertainty,
reluctance,
hesitation,
remorse,
apprehension,
disquiet,
scruple,
compunction,
twinge or pang of conscience
in the sense of scruple
Definition
a doubt or hesitation as to what is morally right in a certain situation
a man with no moral scruples
Synonyms
misgiving,
hesitation,
qualm,
doubt,
difficulty,
caution,
reluctance,
second thoughts,
uneasiness,
perplexity,
compunction,
squeamishness,
twinge of conscience
in the sense of suspicion
Definition
a feeling of mistrust
Our culture harbours deep suspicions of big-time industry.
Synonyms
distrust,
scepticism,
mistrust,
doubt,
misgiving,
qualm,
lack of confidence,
wariness,
bad vibes (slang),
dubiety,
chariness
in the sense of trepidation
Definition
a state of fear or anxiety
It was with some trepidation that I viewed the prospect.
Synonyms
anxiety,
fear,
worry,
alarm,
emotion,
excitement,
dread,
butterflies (informal),
shaking,
disturbance,
dismay,
trembling,
fright,
apprehension,
tremor,
quivering,
nervousness,
disquiet,
agitation,
consternation,
jitters (informal),
cold feet (informal),
uneasiness,
palpitation,
cold sweat (informal),
perturbation,
blue funk (informal),
the heebie-jeebies (slang)
in the sense of uncertainty
The magazine ignores all the uncertainties students currently face.
Synonyms
doubt,
confusion,
dilemma,
misgiving,
qualm,
bewilderment,
quandary,
puzzlement,
perplexity,
mystification
in the sense of worry
Definition
a state or feeling of anxiety
His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.