angst

American  

[ahngkst, angst] / ɑŋkst, æŋst /

noun

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

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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

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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.)

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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

But for now, the angst is about Oracle.

From Barron's

But for now, the angst is about Oracle.

From Barron's

What causes White much angst is that interest rates need only rise a small amount relative to nominal growth in an economy to start posing real consternation for central bankers and finance ministries.

From MarketWatch

But the terminally dissatisfied Carol would rather stew in her own low-grade depression and angst that forfeit her free will.

From Los Angeles Times

Executives also say that binge-watching old shows provides a respite from the angst young people experience while scrolling through social media, which escalated through the COVID-19 lockdowns.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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