anxiety

noun

aŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē How to pronounce anxiety (audio)
Definition of anxietynext
1
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble Dorothy's anxiety about her brother's operation kept her awake all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fearfulness
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger the newly discovered virus is creating considerable anxiety in the public at large

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anxiety distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of anxiety are care, concern, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Where would care be a reasonable alternative to anxiety?

The meanings of care and anxiety largely overlap; however, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When would concern be a good substitute for anxiety?

The words concern and anxiety can be used in similar contexts, but concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When is it sensible to use solicitude instead of anxiety?

The synonyms solicitude and anxiety are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When might worry be a better fit than anxiety?

The words worry and anxiety are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anxiety Safety concerns following a string of plane crashes and cuts affecting the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as stories about tourists being thrown into detention centers without due process or being denied entry possibly because of anti-Trump views, have also heightened travel anxiety. —Vivian Song, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025 Most memorable moment: That tense conversation with Timothy about his missing gun ripples with anxiety. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025 For many, a retake meant lost income, added anxiety and prolonged professional uncertainty. —Zack Defazio Farrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Some experts think screen use is causing sleep problems, and rising rates of anxiety and depression among children may also be affecting slumber. —ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxiety
  1. fear
  2. worry
  3. panic
  4. concern
  5. dread
  6. unease
Noun
  • Adolescence escalates all these issues and fears to their most horrifying symbolic end.
    — Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • By the end of the month, the new moon in Taurus invites you to embrace more intimacy and transformation in your love life, even if that means facing your fears in the process.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of fear
Noun
  • Uncontrollable feelings of worry, unease, nervousness, and fear characterize anxiety disorders.
    — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Southeast Side resident Anne Holcomb emphasized a sense of urgency as worries grow in her community about the environmental impacts of a PsiQuantum computing facility that will be built in the area.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of worry
Noun
  • Trump faces growing pushback from his own party The markets were still in a panic on Monday when an unverified report circulated that the president was considering a 90-day pause on the tariffs.
    — Time, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Later that night, his girlfriend called her in a panic and told her about the shooting.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of panic
Noun
  • That’s a major concern for media as advertisers review budgets.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Now, in the case of the United States, there’s no concern whatsoever with what anybody thinks on the outside.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of concern
Noun
  • Our familiar route turned into an obstacle course of dread, and every step toward the school building sent him deeper into a panicked spiral.
    — Elizabeth Austin, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Once the innie enters the room, it is forced to engage in an activity which coincides with things Gemma fears (going to the dentist, airplane turbulence) or dreads (writing thank-you cards).
    — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of dread
Noun
  • Even when upheaval isn’t imminent within your organization, broad societal and economic shifts can create a sense of unease, as external stressors inevitably impact workplace morale.
    — Michael McFall, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • What is new, however, is the atmosphere of unease ushered in by Donald Trump’s return to power.
    — Alex Ashley, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of unease

Browse Nearby Words

antsy
anxiety
anxious
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Cite this Entry

“Anxiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anxiety

Nglish: Translation of anxiety for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anxiety

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