anxiety

[ ang-zahy-i-tee ]

noun

, plural anx·i·e·ties.

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.

anxiety

/ 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

anxiety

/ 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.

anxiety

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anxiety¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anxiety¹

C16: from Latin anxietas; see anxious

Synonym Study

See apprehension.

Example Sentences

Although uncommon, bananaphobia can be triggered by seeing or smelling the fruit and can cause serious symptoms like anxiety and nausea.

From BBC

In opening the meeting, Board Chair Janet Reilly said the outcome has triggered worry, fear and anxiety in some people, emotions she shared.

From Los Angeles Times

She was stunned to find that a lot of her symptoms - which included brain fog, low mood, joint pain and anxiety - became “vastly better” when she began using progesterone cream topically.

From BBC

One in 10 of these men opts for radical surgery rather than live with the anxiety of wondering whether their cancer will grow, Prof Ahmed says.

From BBC

In mitigation, Tom Walkling representing Le Gresley, said she had been living with the knowledge of how she had behaved, had a long history of depression and anxiety and was "likely to be diagnosed with autism disorder".

From BBC

Related Words

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