misgiving
noun
mis·giv·ing
ˌmis-ˈgi-viŋ 
: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event
Many people have expressed misgivings about his ability to do the job.
Examples of misgiving in a Sentence
I felt some misgiving about his ability to do the job.
They regarded the plan with misgiving.
Recent Examples on the Web
With Lee’s help, Capote worked to tamp down misgivings.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite some of her family's misgivings, Riley’s murder inspired a piece of immigration legislation.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
One of the prosecutors, Thomas Breen, who later became a leading defense attorney, expressed misgivings about the case in the 1990s, prompting a reopening and reexamination.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings Wednesday that some of the Clooneys’ new French compatriots may think that the star couple was granted special treatment.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Misgiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misgiving. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
misgiving
noun
mis·giv·ing
(ˈ)mis-ˈgiv-iŋ
: a feeling of doubt or suspicion especially concerning a future event
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