anxiety

American  

[ang-zahy-i-tee] / æŋˈzaɪ ɪ ti /

noun

• anxieties
  plural

1. distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.

   He felt anxiety about the possible loss of his job.

   Synonyms:

   disquiet, worry, foreboding, fear

   Antonyms:

   tranquility, serenity, certainty

2. earnest but tense desire; eagerness.

   He had a keen anxiety to succeed in his work.

3. Psychiatry. a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.

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anxiety British  

/ æŋˈzaɪɪtɪ /

noun

1. a state of uneasiness or tension caused by apprehension of possible future misfortune, danger, etc; worry

2. intense desire; eagerness

3. psychol a state of intense apprehension or worry often accompanied by physical symptoms such as shaking, intense feelings in the gut, etc, common in mental illness or after a very distressing experience See also angst

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anxiety Scientific  

/ ăng-zī′ĭ-tē /

1. A state of apprehension and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation.

2. ◆ In psychiatry, a patient has an anxiety disorder ◆ if normal psychological functioning is disrupted or if anxiety persists without an identifiable cause.

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anxiety Cultural  

1. Emotional distress, especially that brought on by fear of failure. (See also angst.)

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Synonym Usage

See apprehension.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• anxieties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anxiety

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin anxietās, equivalent to anxi(us) anxious + -etās, variant of -itās before a vowel

Compare meaning

How does anxiety compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anxious vs. anxiety

Explanation

Anxiety is the vague, uneasy feeling you get when you're dreading something. Anxiety can also be a permanent state of nervousness that some people with mental illnesses experience, a milder version of panic. When a scary or unpleasant event is looming, like getting a family portrait taken the year you have braces, you might feel some anxiety. You might also feel anxiety about passing chemistry, especially if you’ve skipped a lot of classes. Someone who suffers from a mild or severe mental illness might feel anxiety all the time. Deep breathing, playing relaxing music, and medication have all been known to help reduce anxiety.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anxiety anxieties

If anxiety does become overwhelming for them, if they aren't sleeping or it is stopping them from doing everyday things, then Shield recommends talking to the school or a local GP.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Previously, only the truly famous – actors, rock stars, pro athletes – were at risk of experiencing the anxiety of public scrutiny.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

Those missing factors are important because people with more severe insomnia, depression, anxiety, or other conditions may be more likely to use melatonin and could independently have a different cardiovascular risk.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

Many are worried that social media continues to increase the risks of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bullying and other harms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Now the bewildered rodent could do nothing but press his nose against the glass and knock with his tiny, monkeylike paws as his bushy tail flicked to and fro with anxiety.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

To investors, Dick’s results were proof that years-long anxieties about the shoe retailer were justified.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

Cowin addresses us directly, sharing her anxieties about aging, particularly the varieties of physical decline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

In fact, Morocco's economy is booming, at least on the surface, but experts say the persistent allure of life on the other side of the border is rooted in deeper anxieties, particularly among the young.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Even so, the yen has been under pressure from a combination of investor anxieties, including over fiscal policy, debt and quickening inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

And from the moment in the supermarket when he had realized he must pretend in order not to worry his mother, part of Will’s mind was always alert to her anxieties.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• angst
• apprehension
• concern
• disquiet
• doubt
• dread
• jitters
• misery
• misgiving
• mistrust
• nervousness
• panic
• restlessness
• suffering
• suspense
• trouble
• uncertainty
• unease
• uneasiness