more anxious about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more anxious about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a heightened level of worry or concern regarding a specific subject or situation. Example: "She was more anxious about the upcoming exam than she had been for any previous test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

People are more anxious about birth here.

The Guardian

He was more anxious about it being a fundraiser.

The Guardian - Opinion

But others were more anxious about the days ahead.

The New York Times

So I rarely write posts that will make parents more anxious about their children, or parenting.

University of California, Berkeley

They've become more skeptical of government and more anxious about deficits and taxes.

The New York Times

Its bullying behavior will only make its neighbors even more anxious about Beijing's intentions.

The New York Times

Villa, meanwhile, will become even more anxious about a potential relegation battle.

Independent

Participants, however, seem more anxious about "lowering expectations" than about achieving the first tangible results.

The New York Times

Long Islanders are ever more anxious about how they can maintain their lifestyle, the report found.

The New York Times

But ministers and councillors are more anxious about the impression they make on children and foreigners.

The Economist

An already nervy party would become much more anxious about its future.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "more anxious about", ensure the context clearly specifies what is causing the anxiety to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "They are more anxious about things", specify "They are "more anxious about" the upcoming changes to the policy".

Common error

Avoid using "more anxious about" in overly broad statements without a clear subject of concern. For example, saying "People are "more anxious about" everything" lacks specificity and reduces the impact of the statement. Instead, pinpoint the specific issue causing anxiety, like "People are "more anxious about" job security".

Linguistic Context

The phrase ""more anxious about"" functions as a comparative adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. Ludwig AI shows that it typically expresses a heightened state of worry or concern in relation to a specific subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

22%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase ""more anxious about"" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey an increased state of worry or concern. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for diverse contexts ranging from news and media to scientific and academic writing. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify the cause of anxiety rather than making broad statements. While ""more anxious about"" is versatile, alternatives like ""more worried about"" or ""more concerned regarding"" can be used to adjust the tone or formality. Overall, ""more anxious about"" is a reliable choice for expressing heightened apprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more worried about

Substitutes "anxious" with "worried", creating a simpler and more direct expression of concern.

more stressed about

Replaces "anxious" with "stressed", emphasizing the pressure and strain experienced.

more nervous concerning

Replaces "anxious" with "nervous" and "about" with "concerning", suggesting a heightened state of agitation.

more concerned regarding

Replaces "anxious" with "concerned" and "about" with "regarding", offering a slightly more formal tone.

becoming more uneasy about

Focuses on the process of becoming uneasy, emphasizing the change in emotional state.

more fearful regarding

Substitutes "anxious" with "fearful", indicating a stronger sense of dread or alarm.

increasingly apprehensive about

Replaces "anxious" with "apprehensive" and adds "increasingly" to emphasize the growing worry.

growing unease regarding

Uses "unease" instead of "anxiety" and "regarding" in place of "about", shifting the focus to a general feeling of discomfort.

showing greater concern for

Shifts the focus to demonstrating concern, rather than simply feeling anxious.

displaying heightened worry about

Highlights the outward manifestation of worry, rather than the internal feeling of anxiety.

FAQs

What's a simple way to rephrase "more anxious about"?

A simpler way to say "more anxious about" is "more worried about". This alternative maintains the same meaning while using more common vocabulary.

Is there a more formal alternative to "more anxious about"?

Yes, a more formal alternative is "more concerned regarding". This phrasing is suitable for professional or academic writing.

How can I emphasize the increasing nature of my anxiety using "more anxious about"?

To emphasize increasing anxiety, you can use "increasingly apprehensive about". This highlights the growing sense of unease.

When is it better to use "more stressed about" instead of "more anxious about"?

"More stressed about" is suitable when the anxiety is directly related to pressure or strain. If the feeling is more about general unease or worry, ""more anxious about"" is more appropriate. Consider using "more stressed about" when discussing workload or deadlines.