misgiving

1 of 2

noun

mis·​giv·​ing ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ How to pronounce misgiving (audio)
Synonyms of misgiving
: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event
Many people have expressed misgivings about his ability to do the job.

misgiving

2 of 2

present participle of misgive

Synonyms of misgiving

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Noun

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Examples of misgiving in a Sentence

Noun I felt some misgiving about his ability to do the job. They regarded the plan with misgiving.
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Noun
Some of these misgivings are serious enough to warrant getting up from the table — Robby finds Fraser in the pantry to ask him to adjust the temperature of the wine. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026 Default insurance on the company also widened, signaling some misgivings on the company’s plans. — Ellen Dimauro, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 But even some Republicans appear to still be harboring misgivings about the administration’s approach to Putin. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 Whatever Lee’s initial misgivings, Netflix—which, in 2023, announced a two-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment in Korean television series and movies—threw its weight behind the project. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misgiving

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misgiving was in 1582

Rhymes for misgiving

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Browse Nearby Words

misgive
misgiving
misgivingly
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Cite this Entry

“Misgiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misgiving. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

misgiving

noun
mis·​giv·​ing (ˈ)mis-ˈgiv-iŋ How to pronounce misgiving (audio)
: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event
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