anxiety

[ang-zahy-i-tee]

noun

plural

anxieties 

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

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

I drank to ease the pressure I felt as a family breadwinner, and to muffle my anxieties about my future.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“While such fears may be overstated, the perception alone continues to support gold as an anchor for such anxieties,” he says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The family said aids that helped Archie function in class were removed for a time which added to his anxiety and distress in school.

Read more on BBC

"For a market addicted to ambiguity, that's the perfect cocktail -- one part anxiety, one part relief, stirred, not shaken."

Read more on Barron's

Melodies for Mums started in 2017 as a free weekly class in Southwark, south London, based on earlier research which suggested group singing could reduce stress and anxiety.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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