anxiousness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Less common than 'anxiety' in modern usage; appears in formal, literary, or psychological contexts.Formal, literary, or technical (psychology). Rare in casual speech.
Quick answer
What does “anxiousness” mean?
A state of mental distress or uneasiness, often concerning an uncertain outcome or anticipated misfortune.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state of mental distress or uneasiness, often concerning an uncertain outcome or anticipated misfortune.
Can also refer to eagerness or earnest desire for something, though this usage is now less common and somewhat archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or frequency. Both varieties strongly prefer 'anxiety' in most contexts.
Connotations
In both, can carry a slight literary or formal tone. The secondary meaning of 'eagerness' is recognized but rarely used.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora. 'Anxiety' is orders of magnitude more common.
Grammar
How to Use “anxiousness” in a Sentence
anxiousness about + NOUN/GERUNDanxiousness over + NOUNanxiousness for + NOUN (archaic: eagerness)anxiousness that + CLAUSEVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anxiousness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- His manner began to anxiousness those around him. (Rare/poetic)
American English
- The uncertain wait anxiousnessed the entire team. (Rare/poetic)
adverb
British English
- He paced the room anxiousnessly. (Non-standard; 'anxiously' is correct)
American English
- She glanced anxiousnessly at the clock. (Non-standard; 'anxiously' is correct)
adjective
British English
- She had an anxiousness look about her. (Grammatical but very uncommon; 'anxious look' is standard)
American English
- He waited in an anxiousness state for the news. (Grammatical but very uncommon)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports about market sentiment: 'The CEO's speech did little to dispel the anxiousness among investors.'
Academic
Found in literary criticism or psychological texts: 'The novel explores the anxiousness of modern existence.'
Everyday
Very rare. One would say 'anxiety' or 'I'm anxious/worried about...' instead.
Technical
Used in psychology/psychiatry, though 'anxiety' is the dominant clinical term. May appear in patient descriptions: 'The patient reported a constant anxiousness.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anxiousness”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anxiousness”
- Using 'anxiousness' in casual conversation where 'worry' or 'anxiety' is more natural. Overusing it due to direct translation from nouns ending in '-ность' in other languages.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Anxiety' is more common, broader, and preferred in clinical contexts. 'Anxiousness' is slightly more literary and emphasizes the state or feeling itself.
Historically, yes, based on an older use of 'anxious'. However, this meaning is now archaic and confusing. In modern English, 'anxiousness' almost always refers to worry, not positive eagerness.
Rarely. Use 'anxiety' in almost all cases (e.g., social anxiety, anxiety disorder). 'Anxiousness' might be chosen in literary writing for variety or to sound slightly more formal or subjective.
It is grammatically correct but very uncommon and sounds non-native or overly formal. A native speaker would say 'I have anxiety' or, more casually, 'I'm anxious' or 'I'm worried'.
A state of mental distress or uneasiness, often concerning an uncertain outcome or anticipated misfortune.
Anxiousness is usually formal, literary, or technical (psychology). rare in casual speech. in register.
Anxiousness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaŋ(k)ʃəsnəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæŋ(k)ʃəsnəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'anxiousness'. The concept is covered by idioms with 'anxiety' or 'nerves', e.g., 'on edge', 'a bundle of nerves'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANXIOUS-NESS' – the state (-NESS) of being ANXIOUS.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANXIOUSNESS IS A BURDEN / ANXIOUSNESS IS A RESTRAINT (e.g., 'weighed down by anxiousness', 'paralysed by anxiousness').
Practice
Quiz
Which word is the most common and neutral synonym for 'anxiousness'?