increasing apprehension

USAGE SUMMARY

'increasing apprehension' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a feeling of growing fear or unease. For example, "The residents of the small town felt an increasing apprehension as the thunderstorm intensified."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The story goes that his father and grandfather both died of heart attacks aged 55 and that Melville approached that same age with increasing apprehension.

The Guardian - Film

Either humans slash the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to near pre-industrial levels or the world will continue to warm, with awful consequences.In low-lying areas, people will watch the steady retreat of Arctic ice, a precursor to rising sea levels, with increasing apprehension.

The Economist

Royce holds that we must have some sort of apprehension of the "higher inclusive thought" in order to be able even to make our errors, and then that the growth of human knowledge over time consists in increasing apprehension of this all-inclusive truth without any limit being prescribed by our subordinate status.

SEP

My own earlier struggles with a fiery temper have also been mitigated in recent years by an increasing apprehension of God's holy kingdom here and now.

Huffington Post

In 1964, as the growing progressive movement watched with increasing apprehension while Lyndon Johnson began the escalation in Vietnam, they coined the semi-ironic campaign slogan "Part of the Way with LBJ" as they helped campaign for LBJ against the truly frightening Republican challenger, Barry ("Better Dead Than Red") Goldwater.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

One of his daughters came over and climbed into his lap and his gentleness with her eased our increasing apprehensions.

Huffington Post

Manipulating the three sides of the problem triangle using the situational crime prevention techniques means that the success of this approach does not rely on increased apprehension.

International Journal for Educational Integrity

I also was confused by the impact warning system, which sends alerts about impending bumps from the sides, rear and low front nose — a bewildering array of beeps and buzzes that only increased apprehension at driving this car.

Los Angeles Times

This limitation based on participation may, in part, be due to increased apprehension surrounding issues of informed consent and researcher access to this information in the study's population.

Plosone

Persistently high unemployment and the decline of middle-class jobs increase apprehensions about competition among members of the next generation.

The New York Times

While the change is within the margin of error, evidence including increased apprehensions of migrants at the US border leads Pew researchers to speculate in a new report that illegal immigration is again rising.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increasing apprehension", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the apprehension to rise. Be specific to enhance the impact and clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "increasing apprehension" without specifying the source or reason. Vague usage can weaken the phrase's effectiveness. Instead of saying "There was increasing apprehension", specify "There was increasing apprehension about the upcoming changes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasing apprehension" functions as a noun phrase, where "increasing" modifies the noun "apprehension". It is used to describe a gradual rise in feelings of anxiety, unease, or worry. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage and comprehensibility.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increasing apprehension" is a grammatically correct and comprehensible phrase used to describe a growing sense of unease or anxiety, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not overly common, it is suitable for neutral and formal contexts such as news reports, scientific articles, and encyclopedic entries. Related phrases include "growing anxiety" and "rising concern", each emphasizing slightly different aspects of the underlying feeling. When using this phrase, it's best practice to specify the source or reason for the apprehension to enhance clarity and impact. Be mindful that overgeneralizing the cause can weaken the phrase's effectiveness. Authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ this phrase, demonstrating its acceptance in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing anxiety

Focuses more specifically on anxiety, which is a component of apprehension.

mounting unease

Emphasizes a feeling of discomfort or disquiet that is steadily intensifying.

rising concern

Highlights the worry associated with a particular situation.

heightened anxiety

Indicates a more intense level of anxiety.

escalating fear

Directly addresses the element of fear, suggesting it is worsening.

intensifying worry

Stresses the growing intensity of worry.

deepening disquiet

Conveys a sense of unease that is becoming more profound.

developing trepidation

Focuses on a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.

accumulating dread

Emphasizes the gradual build-up of intense fear or anxiety.

expanding disquietude

Highlights the state of anxiety and agitation.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "increasing apprehension" in a sentence?

To effectively use "increasing apprehension", provide a clear context of what is causing the rise in anxiety or unease. For instance, "The public felt "increasing apprehension" as the storm approached" clearly links the feeling to the impending storm.

What are some alternatives to saying "increasing apprehension"?

Depending on the specific nuance you want to convey, you can use alternatives like "growing anxiety", "mounting unease", or "rising concern". Each of these emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the underlying feeling. For example, "growing anxiety" focuses on the emotional state while "rising concern" highlights worry about a specific issue.

What's the difference between "increasing apprehension" and "increasing fear"?

"Increasing apprehension" suggests a broader sense of unease and anticipation of potential negative outcomes, while "increasing fear" focuses specifically on a more intense emotional response to an immediate or perceived threat. Apprehension is the broader term.

Is "increasing apprehension" formal or informal language?

"Increasing apprehension" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. It's a professional way of expressing the feeling of increasing anxiety or unease, making it appropriate for news articles, academic papers, and business reports.