: a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity
teenage angst
angsted; angsting; angsts
: to feel or express anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity : to experience or express angst
"… all that time spent agonizing, angsting, and wasted in so many ways, feeling crappy and not writing … ."—
Zsuzsi Gartner
Zsuzsi GartnerAnd there was a whiff of "first-world problems" about two not particularly likeable characters angsting to each other in a trendy-looking gastropub.—Jeff Robson
—often used with over or aboutJeff RobsonYet now we have a Superman who angsts about not having human connections (his marriage to Lois never happened now) and mopes around quite a bit.—Corrina Lawson
Corrina LawsonWe boomers have moved on to mortgages and taxes, angsting over our teenagers and tending to the first signs of ailments apt to drag us down more quickly than we'd like to admit.—Robert Benjamin
Robert BenjaminExamples of angst in a Sentence
Noun
The winner of France's prestigious Prix de Flore, "Report on Myself" is a study in raw angst and mortifying self-disclosure: a portrait of the artist as a lover who just can't catch a break.
—Caroline Weber, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 2009
Adapting Alicia Erian's novel, writer-director Alan Ball showcases both the knack for sketching out thorny relationships that distinguished Six Feet Under and the impulse for … suburban angst that befouled his script for American Beauty.
—Troy Patterson, Spin, September 2008
The retail category, of course, has been a source of angst among newspapers for some time. Retail ad volume in papers has declined for much of the past 15 years, according to Merrill Lynch research.
—Lucia Moses et al., Editor & Publisher, 8 Oct. 2001
One way to increase these health benefits is to learn how to write more fluidly and with less angst and frustration. When you're engaged with what you're doing, the rest of the world recedes.
—Susan H. Perry, Psychology Today, November/December 2001
a film about teenage angst
Caroline Weber, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 2009
Adapting Alicia Erian's novel, writer-director Alan Ball showcases both the knack for sketching out thorny relationships that distinguished Six Feet Under and the impulse for … suburban angst that befouled his script for American Beauty.
—Troy Patterson, Spin, September 2008
The retail category, of course, has been a source of angst among newspapers for some time. Retail ad volume in papers has declined for much of the past 15 years, according to Merrill Lynch research.
—Lucia Moses et al., Editor & Publisher, 8 Oct. 2001
One way to increase these health benefits is to learn how to write more fluidly and with less angst and frustration. When you're engaged with what you're doing, the rest of the world recedes.
—Susan H. Perry, Psychology Today, November/December 2001
a film about teenage angst
Recent Examples on the WebPamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
With mounting consensus for a soft landing, unwelcome surprises can beget a bit of angst in even the most fearless of bull markets.
—Carly Wanna, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
At his recent press conference after the Fed’s latest meeting, the Chairman eased market angst, saying that the Fed would not overreact to the hotter than anticipated January and February inflation data.
—Robert Barone, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Future serves as the eye at the center of the storm as Metro orchestrates a whirlwind of old-school verisimilitude, guest appearances from the likes of Rick Ross and Travis Scott, and haughty, post-platinum angst reminiscent of Missy Elliot’s attack against her haters on Da Real World.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2024
Neon Genesis Evangelion, itself filled with teenage yearning and angst, which has found a devoted new audience on streaming platforms in recent years.
—James Gui, Pitchfork, 28 Mar. 2024
For all the young angst coursing through the lyrics — heartache, insecurity, revenge urges, the weight of social expectations — Rodrigo in concert is a joyous, vivacious affair.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024
Green – whose response to Black trauma often manifests as physical illness and angst – was at a studio with friends.
—Yvonne McBride, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
With her every step of the way is her father Pedro, a single parent who helps her navigate coaches, training schedules, and the angst of teenage life.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024
Byjohn Kell, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
The two-time Oscar winner calibrates Sharon’s spirited perseverance, as well as her susceptibility to angst and sorrow.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024
Investor angst over the dampening economic prospects and high inflation have reflected on the stock price of luxury stocks like LVMH which, in turn, have hurt Arnault’s wealth.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2023
Adventure, but also angst; slugfests, but also sarcasm and soap operas.
—Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023
Clarkson’s rendition of the record is smoother, carrying more soul than angst in her tone.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2023
Yet angst about the appointment is inevitable.
—Maya Wiley, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022
The big moment/big arena may have led to angst early on, but St. Mary’s coach Frank Pagliuca was pleased with the way his trio of senior leaders buckled down as the game went on.
—Olivia Nolan, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023
The sense of pressure and angst that many young adults feel about the future is also not unique to our time.
—Alexis Redding, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2021
Noun
Donna Langley became the first studio mogul to take the stage at CinemaCon this year in a sign of the general angst facing many Hollywood legacy studios.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
With mounting consensus for a soft landing, unwelcome surprises can beget a bit of angst in even the most fearless of bull markets.
—Carly Wanna, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
At his recent press conference after the Fed’s latest meeting, the Chairman eased market angst, saying that the Fed would not overreact to the hotter than anticipated January and February inflation data.
—Robert Barone, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Future serves as the eye at the center of the storm as Metro orchestrates a whirlwind of old-school verisimilitude, guest appearances from the likes of Rick Ross and Travis Scott, and haughty, post-platinum angst reminiscent of Missy Elliot’s attack against her haters on Da Real World.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2024
Neon Genesis Evangelion, itself filled with teenage yearning and angst, which has found a devoted new audience on streaming platforms in recent years.
—James Gui, Pitchfork, 28 Mar. 2024
For all the young angst coursing through the lyrics — heartache, insecurity, revenge urges, the weight of social expectations — Rodrigo in concert is a joyous, vivacious affair.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024
Green – whose response to Black trauma often manifests as physical illness and angst – was at a studio with friends.
—Yvonne McBride, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
With her every step of the way is her father Pedro, a single parent who helps her navigate coaches, training schedules, and the angst of teenage life.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
One societal change today that’s leading to angst among workers is the rising use of artificial intelligence.
—Byjohn Kell, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
The two-time Oscar winner calibrates Sharon’s spirited perseverance, as well as her susceptibility to angst and sorrow.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024
Investor angst over the dampening economic prospects and high inflation have reflected on the stock price of luxury stocks like LVMH which, in turn, have hurt Arnault’s wealth.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2023
Adventure, but also angst; slugfests, but also sarcasm and soap operas.
—Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023
Clarkson’s rendition of the record is smoother, carrying more soul than angst in her tone.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2023
Yet angst about the appointment is inevitable.
—Maya Wiley, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022
The big moment/big arena may have led to angst early on, but St. Mary’s coach Frank Pagliuca was pleased with the way his trio of senior leaders buckled down as the game went on.
—Olivia Nolan, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023
The sense of pressure and angst that many young adults feel about the future is also not unique to our time.
—Alexis Redding, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'angst.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near angst
Cite this Entry
“Angst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angst. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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