ANXIETIES Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'anxiety' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of anxiety are care , concern , solicitude , and worry . While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. // plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Q: Where would 'care' be a reasonable alternative to 'anxiety'?

The meanings of care and anxiety largely overlap; however, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. // a face worn by years of care

Q: When would 'concern' be a good substitute for 'anxiety'?

The words concern and anxiety can be used in similar contexts, but concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. // crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

Q: When is it sensible to use 'solicitude' instead of 'anxiety'?

The synonyms solicitude and anxiety are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. // acted with typical maternal solicitude

Q: When might 'worry' be a better fit than 'anxiety'?

The words worry and anxiety are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. // financial worries

anxiety

noun

aŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē

Definition of anxiety

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word anxiety distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of anxiety are care, concern, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Where would care be a reasonable alternative to anxiety?

The meanings of care and anxiety largely overlap; however, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When would concern be a good substitute for anxiety?

The words concern and anxiety can be used in similar contexts, but concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When is it sensible to use solicitude instead of anxiety?

The synonyms solicitude and anxiety are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When might worry be a better fit than anxiety?

The words worry and anxiety are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of anxiety Keeping three cars together through Cleveland’s rush-hour construction and the darkness of upstate New York caused enough anxiety. — Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Other potential causes are higher rates of chronic stress, depression and anxiety, as well as autoimmune diseases, which weaken the immune system, Curhan said. — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026 For Madison, these AI hallucinations exacerbate some people’s preexisting anxieties about wine. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2026 By creating psychological safety for honest one-on-one conversations, leaders can build trust, reduce ambiguity and move teams from anxiety toward clarity, agency and sustained adoption. — John Radman, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anxiety

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxiety

Noun

Residents say Ethiopian federal forces retook Mekelle’s airport from Tigrayan fighters, but communications blackouts and fear of reprisals have left unclear who controls Tigray’s capital city.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
The book offers creative ways to manage fear and negativity — like pretend-flushing your mistakes down the toilet — before, during and after a high-stakes task.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

The aircraft plunged thousands of feet in two minutes, causing panic and forcing the flight to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
After roughly two days of investigation, police informed the public the entire panic was driven by a hoax.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of panic

Noun

Artificial is pointedly funnier than his other work, including a large comedic performance by Ike Barinholtz as Musk, even as an existential dread permeates.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Audiences can expect natural richness, such as underwater images of glistening shellfish, to encounter ecological dread.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of dread

Noun

The euro sank to its lowest level against the dollar since May 2025 over Spain’s snap elections added to mounting fiscal and political worries across the region.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Such strong growth is what’s allowed stocks to rally near records despite a long list of worries and challenges.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

British authorities have linked the terror plot to Tehran, although Iran has denied involvement.

— Azhar Sukri,Terri Cullen, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
That resonated for me because the war on terror did a tremendous amount of damage to people, and those people have suffered in silence.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of terror

Noun

When presented together and thought juxtapositionally, the works launch visitors onto an emotional pendulum that pivots from exhilaration to unease and distress.

— Tina M. Campt, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The survey quantifies the sense of unease and frustration many customers of these new-wave insurers feel.

— Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of unease

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antsy

anxiety

anxious

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“Anxiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of anxiety

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