apprehensive mood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apprehensive mood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of feeling anxious or fearful about something that may happen. Example: "As the storm approached, an apprehensive mood settled over the town, with residents preparing for the worst."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Signs that Greece's anti-bailout party Syriza was gaining more support ahead of this month's elections added to the apprehensive mood.

The Guardian - Business

Europe's leaders gathered in apprehensive mood in Munich on Saturday for their first chance to weigh up the new US leadership's approach to collective defence in the face of what many perceive as a growing Russian threat.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As usual in Sudan, most of the casualties were civilians.Many voices, many fearsIn Khartoum, the mood is apprehensive.

The Economist

That these occur without warning adds to the mood of apprehensive, terrified alertness that hovers over this story, which Mr. Bielinsky wrote as well as directed.

The New York Times

As he rose to deliver his inaugural address on March 4, 1801, in the still-unfinished Capitol of the equally unfinished national capital on the Potomac, the mood was apprehensive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The mood was apprehensive," says John Guess, who was an undergraduate at Hopkins in the spring of 1968.

Johns Hopkins University

The mood was apprehensive, and when they were in eyeshot of the playground a remarkable transformation took place.

Vice

Some applaud the approach; others are apprehensive.

The New York Times

Former intelligence officials with close ties to the agency said that the mood at the C.I.A. was apprehensive over how, in his absence, it would weather the coming months of Congressional inquiries over the Adminstration's secret arms sales to Iran and the diversion of profits to the rebels fighting the Government of Nicaragua.

The New York Times

The mood inside Hewlett-Packard grew more apprehensive in midweek after Mr. Hurd's name surfaced in documents about the spying operation.

The New York Times - Tech

An accumulation of concussions, as well as mood swings and troubling incidents, left relatives — and Freel himself — apprehensive about his well-being.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "apprehensive mood" to describe a general feeling of unease or anxiety shared by a group or present in a specific environment. It's effective when setting a tone of suspense or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "apprehensive mood" when describing a situation that causes apprehension. Instead, focus on describing the atmosphere or the people's reactions, for example, "the situation caused an apprehensive mood".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apprehensive mood" functions as a descriptive element, typically acting as a subject complement or an adjectival modifier. Ludwig examples show it describing the emotional state within a particular context, such as before an election or in anticipation of a new leadership approach.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "apprehensive mood" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a feeling of unease or anxiety, as validated by Ludwig AI. Though not exceedingly common, it appears in reputable sources, primarily in the news and media, and to a lesser extent in encyclopedias and academic writing. The phrase serves to convey a sense of unease, often tied to future events or uncertain situations. For alternative expressions, you might consider "anxious state" or "uneasy feeling". Remember to use it when describing the general feeling of a group, rather than attributing the apprehension to a situation itself.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anxious state

Focuses on the state of being anxious, rather than the broader concept of a mood.

uneasy feeling

Replaces "apprehensive" with "uneasy" and "mood" with "feeling", highlighting discomfort.

worried sentiment

Substitutes "apprehensive" with "worried", emphasizing the concern or anxiety behind the mood.

anxious anticipation

Highlights the expectation of something uncertain, with an added element of anxiety.

fearful atmosphere

Shifts the focus to the surrounding atmosphere rather than the internal mood.

foreboding sense

Suggests a feeling that something bad is going to happen, adding a layer of anticipation.

nervous disposition

Indicates a tendency to be nervous, changing from a temporary mood to a character trait.

tense climate

Emphasizes the tension in a situation, portraying a broader environmental feeling.

unsettled air

Focuses on the unsettling quality of the environment or situation.

restless spirit

Implies a lack of peace and tranquility, deviating from a specific mood to a general state.

FAQs

How can "apprehensive mood" be used in a sentence?

You can use "apprehensive mood" to describe a shared feeling of anxiety or unease. For example, "An "apprehensive mood" settled over the crowd as the storm clouds gathered".

What is a good synonym for "apprehensive mood"?

Alternatives to "apprehensive mood" include "anxious state", "uneasy feeling", or "fearful atmosphere", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "apprehensive mood" or "anxious mood"?

"Apprehensive mood" and "anxious mood" are similar, but "apprehensive" often implies a specific concern or anticipation of something, while "anxious" can be more general. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "apprehensive mood" and "tense atmosphere"?

While both describe unease, "apprehensive mood" refers to the internal feeling of a person or group, whereas "tense atmosphere" describes the external environment that evokes that feeling.