Fear & Anxiety Vocabulary

a feeling of fear or agitation about something

“She approached the interview with considerable trepidation.”

Origin: Latin trepidatio `agitation, alarm`, from trepidare `to tremble, be agitated`

anxiety or fear about future events

“There was growing apprehension about the economic outlook.”

Origin: Latin apprehensio `seizing, laying hold of`, from apprehendere `to grasp`

feelings of anxiety or dismay at something unexpected

“The announcement caused consternation among investors.”

Origin: Latin consternatio `dismay, confusion`, from consternare `to throw into confusion`

fearful apprehension; a feeling that something bad will happen

“A sense of foreboding hung over the village before the storm.”

Origin: Old English forebodian, from fore- `before` + bodian `to announce, foretell`

great fear or apprehension

“She lived in dread of her secret being discovered.”

Origin: Old English drǣdan, possibly from a Germanic root meaning `to fear`

a feeling of deep anxiety or dread

“Teenage angst is a common theme in young adult literature.”

Origin: German Angst `fear, anxiety`, from Old High German angust, related to Latin angustus `narrow`

anxiety; mental uneasiness

“His perturbation was evident in his pacing.”

Origin: Latin perturbatio `confusion, disturbance`, from perturbare `to disturb greatly`

a feeling of anxiety or worry

“The strange sounds at night filled her with disquiet.”

Origin: From dis- `not` + quiet, first recorded in English in the 16th century

a feeling of anxiety or discomfort

“An unease settled over the room when he entered.”

Origin: From un- `not` + ease, Middle English aise `comfort` from Old French

an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear

“She had no qualms about speaking her mind.”

Origin: Origin uncertain, possibly Old English cwealm `death, plague, torment`