anxiety

anx-i-e-ty · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

  2. 2.

    (psychiatry) A mental health disorder characterized by excessive and persistent worry.

  3. 3.

    Strong desire or concern to do something.

Forms

plural: anxieties

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    anxiety attack — A sudden episode of intense fear or panic.
  • •
    separation anxiety — Distress caused by separation from loved ones.
  • •
    anxiety disorder — A mental health condition involving excessive anxiety.

Related words

Antonyms: calm, peace, serenity, tranquility
See also: anxious, panic, stress, worry
Synonyms: apprehension, nervousness, unease, worry

Etymology

From Latin anxietas ("distress, anxiety"), from anxius ("troubled, uneasy"), from angere ("to choke, squeeze, distress").