anxiety attack

noun

plural anxiety attacks

: a sudden feeling or episode of anxiety

specifically : an episode of mild to severe worry, distress, or fear that may last for hours or days, is typically preceded by a period of gradually increasing levels of fear and worry (such as that associated with a perceived stressor or threat), and that has symptoms (such as increased heart rate and shortness of breath) similar to but often less intense than those associated with a panic attack

… the odds of coming across someone in college having an anxiety attack are fairly high.

—Alisa Patience

The mention of any political figure in the vicinity of my dining room table is enough to induce an anxiety attack.

—Anna Little

I remember getting ready to do the buffet scene on the lawn, and for some reason I got an anxiety attack. I could hardly move. I was terrified.

—Jack Nicholson

Examples of anxiety attack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Emergency Preparedness and Medical Assistance Having emergency medical services (EMS) on-site is essential to address potential health concerns, including dehydration, anxiety attacks, or overconsumption. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025

The filmmaker has candid discussions of mental health and the progressively worsening anxiety attacks related to movie promotion that have turned his dream job into a nightmare. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025

Yesterday’s perspective shift becomes today’s anxiety attack as Mercury and Uranus square off! —USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025

An inability to immediately locate one’s smartphone can trigger severe anxiety attacks clinically referred to as ‘nomophobia’ (no-mobile-phone phobia). —Mark Settle, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably after German Angstanfall or Angstattacke

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anxiety attack

• intracardiac
• aback
• anzac
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback