Angsty

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by feelings of anxiety, worry, or emotional turmoil, especially in an exaggerated or melodramatic way
2. Marked by a pervasive sense of unease, distress, or agitation, often stemming from inner conflict or deep-seated emotional struggles
3. Expressing a strong sense of insecurity, frustration, or dissatisfaction in a way that reveals underlying emotional concerns

Etymology: "Angsty" is a straightforward formation: the noun "angst" with the adjective-forming suffix "-y" added to it. "Angst" itself came into English from German, where it means fear or anxiety, and the German word traces back through Proto-Germanic roots connected to the idea of constriction or pressure, a sense that suits a feeling of being tightly squeezed inside. The suffix is the older and more familiar part. The "-y" ending descends from Old English "-ig," which turned nouns into adjectives describing something full of or characterized by the noun, as in "stony" or "milky." Middle English softened that ending to "-y," and it has been productive ever since, so "angsty" follows the same pattern as countless other everyday adjectives.

Synonyms: anxious, nervous, restless, uneasy, troubled

Antonyms: calm, relaxed, peaceful, content, untroubled