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 dread
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxiety
In a study co-led with Eli Lebowitz, PhD, and Wendy Silverman, PhD, the team is following up with adolescents from an earlier study on social anxiety and social media usage.
—
Crista Marchesseault, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Lack of social support is known to increase risks of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, anxiety and more.
—Helen Dennis, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Owners, managers, and boards can reduce anxiety by sharing what is known, what is being evaluated, what residents should do now, and when the next update will be delivered.
—Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Not to create anxiety, but to maintain respect for the fragility of success.
—Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Crista Marchesseault, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Lack of social support is known to increase risks of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, anxiety and more.
—Helen Dennis, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Owners, managers, and boards can reduce anxiety by sharing what is known, what is being evaluated, what residents should do now, and when the next update will be delivered.
—Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Not to create anxiety, but to maintain respect for the fragility of success.
—Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxiety
Noun
-
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This new strategy recognized that neighborhood fear is not just driven by crimes; it is also driven by neighborhood disorder.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But some congregants’ anguish over October 7th was compounded by dread about Israel’s brutal, indiscriminate response.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
If anything, all the prognostication about it is being led by dread.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Clicking into the title will give you even more information, including a blurb about what parents need to know, a breakdown of potential concerns and positive qualities about the book, and reviews from kids.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Gables leaders have raised concerns during city meetings about the potential impact.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cash in circulation surged 49% YoY due to panic hoarding.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
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In South Korea, where people have been panic-buying trash bags, the government has encouraged event organizers to minimize use of disposable items.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of Bondi's allies believe that the lack of prosecutions is attributable to Blanche, who has not pushed them too hard amid political concerns and worries about his future after his Justice Department career.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The electric carmaker last week reported its first decline in annual profit since 2022, but worries over rising gasoline prices has boosted its business.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But that same inspiration has sometimes drawn questions — and unease — from potential buyers.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the bloodthirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.—
Ryan Brennan
April 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The most violent and thuggish regime on earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest, and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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By 1944, when much of the city lay in ruins, the terror spread.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Dark, eerie, and paranoid (for good reason), the eight-episode season shifts back and forth from the casual grimness of an unwelcoming reality to the shocking frights of a stoner’s worst nightmare (the latter of which is shrewdly motivated by Rachel regularly smoking pot).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
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The real fright, though, came midway through that final frame, when star center Dylan Larkin went down in a heap after his skate seemed to catch awkwardly on the ice.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anxiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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