misgiving
B2Formal, literary, but also used in educated everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of doubt, distrust, or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something.
A sense of unease or skepticism about a situation, often without a clearly defined reason, typically regarding future events or moral acceptability.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always used in the plural form 'misgivings'. Implies a qualm or premonition, often of an ethical or practical nature, rather than simple uncertainty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more formal or literary in American English; in British English, it may appear marginally more frequent in journalistic or political contexts.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties; it is not a rare word but is less common than simpler synonyms like 'doubt'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have misgivings about [something]express misgivings to [someone]feel misgivings over [something]do something despite (one's) misgivingsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have (serious) misgivings about”
- “misgivings set in”
- “overcome one's misgivings”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Investors voiced their misgivings about the company's long-term sustainability plan.
Academic
The philosopher's later work expresses profound misgivings about the ethical foundations of utilitarianism.
Everyday
I had serious misgivings about letting the teenagers go to the festival unsupervised.
Technical
The lead engineer registered her misgivings regarding the software's vulnerability to a specific type of cyber-attack.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old tale misgave him, filling his heart with dread.
- Her conscience misgave her as she signed the document.
American English
- The strange silence in the house misgave him.
- His spirit misgave him at the thought of the challenge ahead.
adverb
British English
- She looked at the contract misgivingly before signing.
- He shook his head misgivingly.
American English
- The agent regarded the plan misgivingly.
- She agreed to the terms, albeit misgivingly.
adjective
British English
- He gave her a misgiving glance before leaving.
- She spoke in a misgiving tone about the future.
American English
- A misgiving look passed between the committee members.
- He felt a misgiving sensation about the deal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He had misgivings about the test.
- I feel some misgivings.
- She had misgivings about moving to a new country alone.
- We started the project despite our initial misgivings.
- The manager's misgivings about the new policy were later proven correct.
- Many MPs expressed deep misgivings about the proposed legislation.
- Her misgivings stemmed from a profound ethical disagreement with the company's direction.
- Notwithstanding his personal misgivings, the ambassador was obliged to present the official line.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MIS-GIVING: Think of it as a 'bad gift' (mis-gift) – a feeling that something, like a plan or decision, is a bad gift that will cause trouble later.
Conceptual Metaphor
DOUBT/UNEASE IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (e.g., 'carry misgivings', 'weighed down by misgivings').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не является прямым эквивалентом слова 'сомнение' (doubt), так как содержит оттенок беспокойства и предчувствия плохого.
- Не путать с 'недоразумение' (misunderstanding) или 'ошибка' (mistake).
- Часто требует множественного числа при переводе на русский ('опасения', 'сомнения').
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I misgive that idea' – incorrect).
- Using the singular form 'a misgiving' is grammatically possible but extremely rare; the plural is standard.
- Confusing it with 'misguided' (which is an adjective meaning wrong or foolish).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'misgivings'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always used in the plural form 'misgivings'. The singular form 'a misgiving' is grammatically possible but very rare in modern usage.
While both involve uncertainty, a 'misgiving' specifically implies a feeling of fear, distrust, or apprehension about a future outcome, often with an ethical dimension. 'Doubt' is broader and can relate to simple uncertainty about facts or truth.
The verb 'misgive' is archaic and is almost never used in contemporary English. The noun 'misgiving(s)' is the standard form.
No, by definition it relates to negative premonitions or unease. It is not used to express positive anticipation.