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Apprehensive vs Frightened - What's the difference?

apprehensive | frightened |

As adjectives the difference between apprehensive and frightened

is that apprehensive is anticipating something with anxiety or fear while frightened is afraid; suffering from fear.

As a verb frightened is

past tense of frighten.

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

    frightened

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Afraid; suffering from fear.
  • *
    • He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance.But she said she must go back, and when they joined the crowd again her partner was haled off with a frightened look to the royal circle, […].

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (head)
  • (frighten)