angst
gb/ˈɑŋkst/ us/ˈɑŋkst/
C1
English
szorongás, aggodalom, kamaszkori szorongás, tinédzserkori szorongás, egzisztenciális szorongás, létszorongás
NOUN
C1
1
Usage pattern:
angst (about/over) [something]
There’s a lot of angst about whether the company will survive the year.
Sok aggodalom van amiatt, hogy a vállalat túléli-e az évet.
She tried to hide her angst, but her voice kept shaking.
Megpróbálta leplezni a szorongását, de a hangja továbbra is remegett.
The policy change created public angst across the country.
Learner examples
He feels angst about his exam.
Szorong a vizsgája miatt.
I have a lot of angst about the future.
Sok aggodalmam van a jövővel kapcsolatban.
Common mistake:
Usually uncountable: say “angst” or “a lot of angst,” not “an angst.” Also, it does not mean “anger.”
Meaning
anxiety and worried unease
Collocations
feel angst
|a sense of angst
|deep angst
|growing angst
|public angst
|widespread angst
|angst about the future
|angst over prices
|angst over change
|full of angst
Synonyms
anxiety (more general and common.)
|
unease (often milder than angst.)
|
apprehension (focuses on worry about what will happen.)
|
dread (strong fear about something expected.)
Antonyms
calm (a relaxed state without worry.)
|
peace of mind (a settled feeling of reassurance.)
Themes
emotions
|mental_health
|daily_life
Definition
a strong feeling of worry or nervousness
A feeling of anxiety, worry, or unease, often about an uncertain situation or the future.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s angst
The film captures the awkwardness and angst of high school perfectly.
A film tökéletesen ragadja meg a középiskolás évek kínosságát és kamaszkori szorongását.
His early songs were full of teenage angst and heartbreak.
Korai dalai tele voltak kamaszkori szorongással és szívfájdalommal.
She laughed at her old journal and all the angst on those pages.
Learner examples
The story is about teenage angst.
A történet a kamaszkori szorongásról szól.
His music is full of angst.
A zenéje tele van kamaszkori szorongással.
Common mistake:
Often used as a mass noun: “teenage angst,” not usually “teenage angsts.”
Meaning
adolescent emotional turmoil
Collocations
teenage angst
|adolescent angst
|youthful angst
|angst and insecurity
|a burst of angst
|angst-ridden lyrics
|angst-filled diary
|channel your angst
|express your angst
|post-breakup angst
Synonyms
turmoil (emotional chaos without the specific teen association.)
|
insecurity (focuses on lack of confidence.)
|
misery (emphasizes unhappiness rather than anxiety.)
Antonyms
contentment (a satisfied, comfortable feeling.)
|
confidence (lack of self-doubt that often fuels angst.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|youth
|culture
Definition
strong unhappy feelings, especially in teenagers
Strong feelings of insecurity, frustration, and sadness, especially associated with adolescence and coming-of-age experiences.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
existential angst (about) [something]
After the diagnosis, he sank into existential angst about mortality.
A diagnózis után mély egzisztenciális szorongásba zuhant a halandóság gondolata miatt.
The novel explores the characters’ angst in a world that feels meaningless.
A regény a szereplők egzisztenciális szorongását vizsgálja egy olyan világban, amely értelmetlennek tűnik.
Her jokes about existential angst kept the conversation from getting too heavy.
Learner examples
He has existential angst.
Egzisztenciális szorongása van.
Sometimes I feel angst about the meaning of life.
Néha egzisztenciális szorongást érzek az élet értelme miatt.
Common mistake:
Often used in serious or literary contexts; in casual talk it can sound dramatic unless used humorously.
Meaning
existential dread about life
Collocations
existential angst
|a wave of angst
|late-night angst
|philosophical angst
|modern angst
|postwar angst
|quiet angst
|underlying angst
|angst about mortality
|angst about purpose
Synonyms
existential dread (very close in meaning; more explicit about fear.)
|
despair (stronger hopelessness; not always tied to meaning of life.)
Antonyms
hope (a positive expectation that counters dread.)
|
certainty (confidence that reduces existential questioning.)
Themes
emotions
|philosophy
|mental_health
|literature
Definition
deep worry about life’s meaning
A deep feeling of anxiety or dread about the meaning of life, existence, or one’s place in the world.
Grammar
Dictionary form
angst
IPA
GB/ˈɑŋkst/
US/ˈɑŋkst/
Syllables & stress
angst (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (angst)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: angst
- Plural: angst
Word family
Core family
angsty
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
angst-ridden
adjective C2
Expressions
angst-filled
1/ˈɑŋkst fˈɪld/
fixed phrase
containing lots of angst
full of worry and unhappy feelings
Examples
- She posted an angst-filled message after the breakup.
- The novel’s middle section is packed with angst-filled scenes.
- The soundtrack is full of angst-filled ballads.
Learner examples
- He wrote an angst-filled letter.
angst-ridden
1/ˈɑŋkst ɹˈɪdən/
fixed phrase
full of anxious emotion
very worried and unhappy
Examples
- It’s an angst-ridden drama about family conflict.
- His angst-ridden monologue went viral online.
- The review called the album an angst-ridden masterpiece.
Learner examples
- It is an angst-ridden story.
economic angst
1/ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk ˈɑŋkst/
fixed phrase
worry about the economy
worry about money and the economy
Examples
- Economic angst rose as layoffs spread through the industry.
- The speech tried to address voters’ economic angst.
- High rents are fueling economic angst among young adults.
Learner examples
- Many people feel economic angst.
existential angst
1/ˌɛɡzˌɪstˈɛnʃəl ˈɑŋkst/
fixed phrase
literary
dread about life’s meaning
deep worry about why we exist
Examples
- He wrote essays full of existential angst.
- The film turns existential angst into dark humor.
- She felt existential angst after leaving her job.
Learner examples
- He feels existential angst.
political angst
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl ˈɑŋkst/
fixed phrase
worry about politics
worry about politics and government
Examples
- Political angst has dominated conversations all week.
- She took a break from the news to reduce her political angst.
- The comedian turned political angst into a stand-up set.
Learner examples
- I feel political angst when I watch the news.
teenage angst
1/tˈinˌeɪd͡ʒ ˈɑŋkst/
fixed phrase
emotional worry typical of teens
Strong worry, sadness, or stress that many teenagers feel about life, themselves, or the future.
Examples
- The book captures the teenage angst of growing up in a big city.
- Her songs are full of teenage angst and confusion.
teenage angst
1/tˈinˌeɪd͡ʒ ˈɑŋkst/
fixed phrase
teen insecurity and unhappiness
strong unhappy feelings that many teenagers have
Examples
- The band built its reputation on songs about teenage angst.
- The show mixes teenage angst with comedy.
- He joked that his hairstyle was pure teenage angst.
Learner examples
- The movie shows teenage angst.
- His lyrics are about teenage angst.