Meaning & use

anxiety

noun·Everyday

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

See it in a sentence

The exam gave her a wave of anxiety that lasted until she saw the results.

He manages his anxiety through regular exercise and deep breathing exercises.

A note on using this word

Anxiety can describe an everyday feeling or, when severe and lasting, a diagnosable mental health condition.

Words with a similar meaning

nervousnessworry

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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