driven by anxiety

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driven by anxiety" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions, behaviors, or decisions that are motivated or influenced by feelings of anxiety. Example: "Her decision to leave the party early was driven by anxiety about the upcoming presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

However it doesn't fundamentally alter the public's attitude towards selection, which is often driven by anxiety rather than rationality.

The Guardian

More than most of her male counterparts, Horney felt that people were driven by anxiety and the desire for security.

The New York Times

In giving up her splurge, Ms. Kakouris joined a steeply rising number of shoppers who, driven by anxiety over jobs and savings, or an immediate need for cash, are marching back to stores with their purchases.

The New York Times

I had this weird epiphany moment while I was there, like, on the beach looking at all this and, like, I started thinking about how, like, how much of my life was driven by anxiety.

The Guardian - Music

As he noted, a right-of-center Indian government, which was in power from 1999 to 2004, began to introduce a national I.D. scheme, largely driven by anxiety about border security.

The New Yorker

But one night, recovering from the breakup of a relationship and driven by anxiety and compulsion, he donned his Levi's and butterscotch vinyl jacket, drove to an adult bookstore, paid $3 to enter a grimy, dimly lit booth with a hole in the wall and had unprotected sex with two men.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But Johnson appeared to downplay that on Monday, writing in the Telegraph: "It is said that those who voted leave were mainly driven by anxieties about immigration.

The Guardian

Daphne Koller, the Stanford computer science professor who is a founder of Coursera, said she thought the C.I.C. paper represented an exploratory discussion driven by anxieties about how online education would change higher education.

The New York Times

Both are traditionalist movements driven by economic anxiety and mistrust of centralised government power.

The Economist

The plot is still driven by status anxiety, but of a modern, more meritocratic kind: characters are exercised by their place in the world, certainly, but view that place in terms of career, not class.

The Guardian

The danger is that the elections will be driven by frantic anxiety over a metaphor, without any sense of what solutions the public might accept.To make a long story short: that Gallup poll is a bad poll.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "driven by anxiety", ensure that the context clearly demonstrates how anxiety is the primary motivator behind the action or decision being described. Provide specific details to support the claim.

Common error

Avoid using "driven by anxiety" as a catch-all explanation without providing sufficient context. It's crucial to specify the type of anxiety and its direct influence on the situation, rather than using it as a vague or unsupported justification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by anxiety" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun by describing its motivation. It indicates that anxiety is the primary force behind an action, decision, or state. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "driven by anxiety" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that functions as an adjectival phrase to describe motivations rooted in anxious feelings. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a practical way to explain behaviors or decisions influenced by anxiety. While not exceedingly common, its usage spans across News & Media, Science, and general contexts, with primary authoritative sources including The New York Times and The Guardian. When employing this phrase, clarity and specific context are crucial to avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by anxiety

Replaces "driven" with "motivated", a direct synonym emphasizing the cause of action.

influenced by anxiety

Substitutes "driven" with "influenced", highlighting the effect of anxiety on decisions or behavior.

prompted by anxiety

Uses "prompted" instead of "driven", suggesting anxiety as the instigator of an action.

fueled by anxiety

Employs "fueled" to convey that anxiety provides the energy or impetus for something.

compelled by anxiety

Replaces "driven" with "compelled", indicating a feeling of being forced or obliged by anxiety.

guided by anxiety

Uses "guided" to show anxiety as a directional force affecting choices or actions.

acting out of anxiety

Indicates that actions are a direct result of feeling anxious.

with anxiety as a motivator

Phrases the concept by explicitly stating anxiety's role as a motivator.

out of anxiousness

A shorter variation, focusing directly on the state of being anxious as the reason.

owing to anxiety

Uses "owing to" to show direct causation by anxious feelings.

FAQs

How can I use "driven by anxiety" in a sentence?

You can use "driven by anxiety" to describe actions or decisions motivated by anxious feelings. For example, "Her decision to overprepare was "driven by anxiety" about failing the exam."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "driven by anxiety"?

Alternatives include "motivated by anxiety", "influenced by anxiety", or "prompted by anxiety", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "driven by anxiety"?

Yes, "driven by anxiety" is grammatically correct. It's a prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate that anxiety is the primary cause or motivator of something.

What's the difference between "driven by anxiety" and "caused by anxiety"?

"Driven by anxiety" implies a motivational force, whereas "caused by anxiety" suggests a direct result. "Driven by anxiety" indicates that anxiety leads to a specific action, while "caused by anxiety" means anxiety is the origin of a particular condition or state.