angst

American  

[ahngkst, angst] / ɑŋkst, æŋst /

noun

1. a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

---

angst British  

/ æŋst, aŋst /

noun

1. an acute but nonspecific sense of anxiety or remorse

2. (in Existentialist philosophy) the dread caused by man's awareness that his future is not determined but must be freely chosen

---

angst Cultural  

1. A kind of fear or anxiety; Angst is German for “fear.” It is usually applied to a deep and essentially philosophical anxiety about the world in general or personal freedom. (See existentialism.)

---

Other Word Forms

• angsty adjective

Etymology

Origin of angst

First recorded in 1840–50; from German Angst “fear, anxiety,” Old High German angust (cognate with Middle Low German angest, Middle Dutch anxt ), from ang- (akin to eng “narrow, constricted”) + -st, abstract noun suffix

Example Sentences

Why so much angst when many of the economy’s vital signs appear healthy?

From MarketWatch

There was plenty of angst that the signing of Kyle Tucker was made possible in large part because MLB long ago rewarded the Dodgers’ owners with preferential financial treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

Inspired by the idea of "today's aristocrats", it featured "angst and a kind of wrongness, engulfing wrong taste", Anderson told reporters, departing from his safer approach last year.

From Barron's

The main source of this tech-sector angst is software, where investors are concerned that AI may substitute many services, according to Emanuel.

From MarketWatch

He said he didn't want "normality" as he reimagined modern-day aristocrats for his second men's collection, adding that his designs included some "angst and a kind of wrongness, engulfing wrong taste".

From Barron's

Related Words

• agony
• apprehension
• dread
• misgiving
• nervousness
• uneasiness