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Apprehensive vs Caution - What's the difference?

apprehensive | caution |

As an adjective apprehensive

is anticipating something with anxiety or fear.

As a noun caution is

precept or warning against evil or danger of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction.

As a verb caution is

to warn; to alert, advise that caution is warranted.

apprehensive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Anticipating something with anxiety or fear.
  • * 1719 ,
  • this convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night on that coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was another question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of the lions and tigers; at least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.
  • Perceptive; quick to learn; intelligent; capable of grasping with the mind or intellect.
  • * 1670 ,
  • More fond of Miracles, than apprehensive of Truth.

    Derived terms

    * apprehensively

    caution

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Precept or warning against evil or danger of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction.
  • * Shakespeare
  • In way of caution I must tell you.
  • A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.
  • Security; guaranty; bail.
  • * Clarendon
  • The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the war should be prosecuted.
  • One who gives rise to attention or astonishment.
  • Oh, that boy, he's a caution ! He does make me laugh.
  • A formal warning given as an alternative to prosecution in minor cases.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * err on the side of caution * throw caution to the wind

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To warn; to alert, advise that caution is warranted.
  • Anagrams

    * ----