Trepidation
hardtrep-ih-DAY-shun
noun
Definition
A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen
Examples
“She approached the job interview with some trepidation.”
“He felt trepidation about his first day at the new school.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Trepidation is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "apprehension" or "anxiety" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "confidence".
Related GRE Words
apprehension
Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
ennui
A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement
consternation
A feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected
ominous
Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
foreboding
A feeling that something bad will happen; fearful apprehension
premonition
A strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant
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