anxiety Hear it!

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anxiety definition

anxi·ety (aŋ zī′ə tē)

noun pl. anxieties -·ties

  1. a state of being uneasy, apprehensive, or worried about what may happen; concern about a possible future event
  2. Psychiatry an abnormal state like this, characterized by a feeling of being powerless and unable to cope with threatening events, typically imaginary, and by physical tension, as shown by sweating, trembling, etc.
  3. an eager but often uneasy desire anxiety to do well

Etymology: L anxietas < anxius, anxious

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical anxiety definition - medical

anxiety Synonyms

anxiety

n.

worry, uneasiness, apprehension, disquiet, nervousness, anxiousness, concern, misgiving, foreboding, fear, dread, agitation, inquietude, unease, distress, angst, stress, tension, strain, neurosis, butterflies*; see also care 2, nervousness 1. See syn. study atcare.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

anxiety Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • relieve: Relaxing in warm water and being gently massaged relieves anxiety and relaxes tense and aching muscles.

Adjective modifier

  • needless: Even without maladministration Mrs Park's circumstances would have been difficult, but she suffered the injustice of needless additional anxiety and distress.

Modifies a noun

  • disorder: Many of you reading this either know someone with an anxiety disorder or are yourself a sufferer.

Noun used with modifier

  • separation: I was soon to realize Emma had a chronic separation anxiety, thus those big chunks out her previous stable.
anxiety usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

anxiety quotes

Ich habe kein Gemu«  t, sondern Angst. I have no comfort, onlyanxiety.

-Frisch, Max Rudolph

When you're lying awake with a dismal headache, and repose is taboo'd by anxiety, I conceive you may use any language you choose to indulge in, without impropriety.

-Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

The most desirable mental state for a potential consumer†is a kind of free-floating anxietyand depression, combined with a nice collection of unrealistic goals and desires.

-Lurie, Alison

anxiety quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"anxiety." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/anxiety>

APA Style

anxiety. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/anxiety

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