understandably anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

"understandably anxious" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing someone’s anxiety that is justifiable based on the circumstances. Example: "After hearing the news, she felt understandably anxious about the future." Alternative expressions include "justifiably anxious" and "reasonably anxious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

American workers are understandably anxious.

The New York Times

Protesters contained in this manner become understandably anxious.

The Guardian - Opinion

The death, Dr. Shook said, had made families understandably anxious.

The New York Times

"People are understandably anxious about radioactivity," Fisher said.

The Guardian

The authorities are understandably anxious to play down the significance of the bombings.

The Economist

And investors are understandably anxious the Fed might change its mind.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Carol Povey, director of the National Autistic Society's Centre for Autism, said: "The term Asperger Syndrome is a core part of their identity for many people and they understandably feel anxious about moves to remove the term.

The Guardian

With their advantage far from safe, United understandably looked anxious to finish the game off after the break but they were continually thwarted by poor finishing.

BBC

As they were understandably a little anxious, we booked the whole journey with BA.

The Guardian - Money

Britain was responsible for the construction of the first stage of the satellite launcher, and European nations were understandably angered and anxious at the decision which would render ELDO completely useless.

The Guardian

Immediately after a traumatic event people understandably feel shocked, anxious and afraid.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "understandably anxious", ensure the reason for the anxiety is clear to the reader. Providing context strengthens the phrase and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While useful, avoid overusing "understandably anxious" in your writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "justifiably worried" or "reasonably concerned" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "understandably anxious" is to act as an adverbial modifier describing the state of being anxious. The adverb "understandably" modifies the adjective "anxious", indicating that the anxiety is logical and justifiable, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "understandably anxious" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes a state of anxiety that is justified based on the circumstances. As supported by Ludwig examples, it frequently appears in News & Media. Ludwig AI indicates it is perfectly valid in all forms of written English. While it's a useful phrase, varying your language with alternatives such as "justifiably worried" or "reasonably concerned" can enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

justifiably worried

Replaces "anxious" with "worried", emphasizing concern and apprehension with a strong element of justification.

reasonably concerned

Substitutes "anxious" with "concerned", suggesting a rational basis for worry and a focus on potential problems.

legitimately apprehensive

Emphasizes the validity of the anxious feeling, using "apprehensive" to highlight a fear of future events.

understandably nervous

Replaces "anxious" with "nervous", indicating unease and heightened anticipation due to circumstances.

with good reason worried

Adds emphasis to the justification of worry by explicitly stating "with good reason".

understandably uneasy

Replaces "anxious" with "uneasy", suggesting a lack of comfort or peace of mind given the situation.

understandably stressed

Replaces "anxious" with "stressed", focusing on the pressure and strain caused by the situation.

understandably fearful

Substitutes "anxious" with "fearful", emphasizing the element of fright and worry in the reaction.

understandably insecure

Replaces "anxious" with "insecure", focusing on a lack of confidence due to the surrounding situation.

understandably restless

Replaces "anxious" with "restless", indicating an inability to relax or be still due to worry.

FAQs

How can I use "understandably anxious" in a sentence?

"Understandably anxious" is used to describe someone's feelings of worry or unease that are justifiable given the circumstances. For example: "After the accident, the family was "understandably anxious" about his recovery."

What are some alternatives to "understandably anxious"?

You can use alternatives like "justifiably worried", "reasonably concerned", or "legitimately apprehensive" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "understandably nervous" instead of "understandably anxious"?

Yes, "understandably nervous" can be a suitable alternative to "understandably anxious", especially when emphasizing unease and heightened anticipation. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example after a long period of social isolation due to COVID, students can be "understandably nervous" about returning to school.

What does "understandably anxious" imply about the situation?

The phrase "understandably anxious" implies that there is a clear and reasonable cause for the person's anxiety. It suggests that anyone in a similar situation would likely feel the same way. It suggests that business owners are "understandably anxious" about economic stability.