apprehension
/æp.ɹɪˈhɛn.ʃən/noun
A feeling of worry or dread about something bad that might happen.
Context does the work: it can mean dread, an arrest, or understanding. The dread sense dominates in ordinary prose.
Related words
distressStrong pain, worry, or suffering of the body or mind, often sudden and severe.uneaseA feeling of worry or discomfort; a sense that something is wrong.agitationA troubled, restless state in which someone's peace of mind is disturbed.alarmA sound or signal that warns people of danger or calls for their attention.irritationA feeling of annoyance, or the condition of being annoyed.horrorA powerful feeling of shock, fear, or disgust.