Apprehensiveness

/ˌæprɪˈhenʃəsnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of feeling anxious, worried, or nervous about something.

Etymology

From apprehensive + -ness suffix. Apprehensive comes from apprehension + -ive. The -ness suffix converts adjectives to abstract nouns representing qualities. This word emphasizes the modern anxiety sense.

Kelly Says

Psychologists measure 'apprehensiveness' as a personality trait that actually predicts success in jobs requiring caution—your anxiety isn't a weakness, it's your brain's threat-detection system working overtime!

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