anxiety

American  

[ang-zahy-i-tee] / æŋˈzaɪ ɪ ti /

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.

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anxiety British  

/ 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

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anxiety Scientific  

/ 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.

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anxiety Cultural  

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

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Related Words

See apprehension.

Etymology

Origin of anxiety

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

Compare meaning

How does anxiety compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anxious vs. anxiety

Explanation

Anxiety is the vague, uneasy feeling you get when you're dreading something. Anxiety can also be a permanent state of nervousness that some people with mental illnesses experience, a milder version of panic. When a scary or unpleasant event is looming, like getting a family portrait taken the year you have braces, you might feel some anxiety. You might also feel anxiety about passing chemistry, especially if you’ve skipped a lot of classes. Someone who suffers from a mild or severe mental illness might feel anxiety all the time. Deep breathing, playing relaxing music, and medication have all been known to help reduce anxiety.

Example Sentences

Americans have long turned to gold in times of turmoil and financial anxiety.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

To push back against generational anxiety, Shahniani has covered every wall in his house with sentimental items — hundreds in total — many of them from periods he is too young to have experienced.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Solomon expressed confidence in Goldman's private credit business in response to analyst questions amid growing investor anxiety.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Mental health issues like anxiety were the most common concern raised by parents of girls to a helpline run by the charity Young Minds.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

I adjusted the brim of my cap, my lingering anxiety giving way to a slight discomfort at being out here in the open where anyone could see us.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

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