angst
Americannoun
noun
-
an acute but nonspecific sense of anxiety or remorse
-
(in Existentialist philosophy) the dread caused by man's awareness that his future is not determined but must be freely chosen
Other Word Forms
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
Explanation
Angst is a feeling of anxiety and frustration that isn't specific. People often feel angst about the state of the world, or about the state of their homework. Angst is anxiety that is mixed with frustration and negativity. Angst often doesn’t have a specific target: people feel angst in general. Teenagers are known for their angst, which is shown when they act miserable about nothing in particular. Often, angst refers to philosophical displeasure with world events or personal freedom. An angst-filled person is dissatisfied and unhappy.
Vocabulary lists containing angst
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This Week in Words: October 13 – 20, 2018
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Don't Panic! Synonyms for "Stress"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The angst must have been off the charts.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
Her return visit to Auschwitz, around the same time, dissolved much of her angst, allowing her to pursue her vocation with greater self-confidence.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
As investors warily eye U.S. long-bond yields near 5%, another bout of fixed income angst could be about to rattle markets.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
A man of good will wrestling with middle-aged angst, Artie is “in many ways, the embodiment of the American dream,” Strout tells us.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Eze was the wealthiest man in the room, an owner of oil wells, and as many of the Nigerian wealthy were, he was free of angst, an obliviously happy man.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
