highly anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is experiencing a significant level of anxiety or nervousness. Example: "Before the big presentation, she felt highly anxious about her performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Highly anxious people have more trouble deciding how best to handle life's uncertainties.

University of California, Berkeley

The highly anxious strain, BALB/cByJ, performed poorly compared to the non anxious strain, C57BL/6J.

Behavioural Brain Research

"There was one girl under statutory controls who came in highly anxious," Ireland said.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It is almost impossible to remain highly anxious when deeply relaxed.

The New York Times

Highly anxious people had more trouble than their less anxious counterparts adjusting to this and thus avoiding shocks.

University of California, Berkeley

They find themselves in a situation where they become highly anxious and it can be a downward spiral.

The New York Times

When I asked Eken about other common sources of worry among highly anxious kids, she didn't hesitate: social media.

The New York Times - Magazine

Highly anxious people, though, have an overactive fight-or-flight response that perceives threats where there often are none.

The New York Times - Magazine

Did someone you know start behaving out of character, washing their clothes, appear to be highly anxious?

Independent

Also weaker in highly anxious participants was their pupil response to receiving a shock (or not) during the erratic phase of the game.

University of California, Berkeley

Shaw: Parents with PTSD tend to be highly anxious and prone to overinterpret mild distress in their children as indicating possible serious illness.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "highly anxious", be specific about the triggers or situations that exacerbate their anxiety to provide a more nuanced understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "highly anxious" as a blanket descriptor. Instead, identify the specific context or situations where the anxiety manifests to provide a clearer and more empathetic portrayal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly anxious" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun to indicate a significant degree of anxiety experienced by the subject. Ludwig confirms its common usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Academia

27%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "highly anxious" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase to describe a significant state of anxiety. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread usage. It appears commonly in News & Media, Science and Academic contexts, denoting a neutral register. When employing this phrase, it's beneficial to provide specific examples or contexts to offer a nuanced and empathic representation. Related phrases, like "extremely anxious" or "intensely anxious", can be considered for variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely anxious

Indicates a very high level of anxiety, similar in intensity to "highly anxious".

in a state of high anxiety

Describes a condition or situation characterized by elevated anxiety levels.

intensely anxious

Emphasizes the strong and concentrated nature of the anxiety.

severely anxious

Suggests a serious and impactful level of anxiety.

very anxious

A more general term for anxiety, less intense than "highly anxious".

overwhelmed with anxiety

Suggests that the anxiety is so strong it's causing a feeling of being overwhelmed.

deeply worried

Focuses on the worry aspect of anxiety, implying a profound level of concern.

acutely apprehensive

Emphasizes the sharp and immediate feeling of unease or fear.

consumed by worry

Indicates that worry dominates the person's thoughts and feelings.

gravely concerned

Highlights the serious nature of the anxiety and its potential consequences.

FAQs

How can I accurately describe someone who experiences significant anxiety?

Using the phrase "highly anxious" effectively communicates a substantial level of anxiety. You could also consider phrases like "extremely anxious" or "intensely anxious" for similar meaning.

What are some situations where it's appropriate to use the phrase "highly anxious"?

The phrase "highly anxious" is suitable when describing someone's reaction to stressful events, chronic worry, or diagnosed anxiety disorders. Be mindful of using it respectfully and accurately.

Is there a difference between saying someone is "highly anxious" versus "very anxious"?

While both describe anxiety, "highly anxious" implies a more elevated and persistent level of anxiety compared to "very anxious", which can suggest a more general or situational anxiety.

Are there any negative connotations associated with the term "highly anxious"?

The term "highly anxious" itself isn't inherently negative, but it's important to use it with sensitivity and avoid stigmatizing individuals experiencing anxiety. Focus on providing supportive and accurate descriptions.