visibly anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "visibly anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is showing clear signs of anxiety that are noticeable to others. Example: "During the presentation, she appeared visibly anxious, fidgeting with her notes and avoiding eye contact."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

He's visibly anxious and speaking quite loudly.

The New York Times - Magazine

Visibly anxious, she asked what was wrong.

The New York Times

Ravi was visibly anxious when the judge addressed him.

The New Yorker

And about the terrible pressure to entertain, to sell ourselves and never to be visibly anxious.

The New York Times - Books

Ms. Dannels was visibly anxious before her dive, fumbling with her gauges and checking and rechecking them.

The New York Times - Travel

"Do you think this is the peak?" he asked a visibly anxious aide during his first major political crisis.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Matthias is visibly nervous.

The Economist

He looked visibly nervous.

The New Yorker

Leaving that to start again was a thought that (I observed) made him so very anxious and visibly shaken.

The Guardian

The transferees were visibly upset and quite anxious, they were quite adamant that I would be sending them home to their death".

The Guardian

Powell's team were visibly shaken but, after another couple of anxious moments, they hit back with a near carbon copy of the goal they had conceded.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character's emotional state in writing, use "visibly anxious" to clearly show, rather than merely tell, the reader about their inner feelings.

Common error

While "visibly anxious" is effective, avoid overusing it to describe a character's anxiety in every scene. Vary your descriptions with other expressions to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "visibly anxious" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe someone's state. It indicates that the person's anxiety is not hidden but can be observed by others. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "visibly anxious" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to depict someone's outwardly apparent state of anxiety. Analysis, supported by examples from Ludwig AI, highlights that it functions as an adjectival phrase with neutral register, making it suitable for diverse contexts ranging from news reporting to academic writing. While effective, it is important to avoid overuse and consider alternatives such as "evidently anxious" or "noticeably anxious" to maintain writing variety. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, reinforcing its value in effectively conveying a person's observable emotional state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evidently anxious

Focuses on the readily apparent nature of the anxiety.

distinctly anxious

Emphasizes the clear and noticeable quality of the anxiety.

obviously anxious

Highlights the self-evidence and ease of perceiving the anxiety.

apparently anxious

Suggests that the anxiety is judged based on available evidence.

noticeably anxious

Focuses on the fact that the anxiety does not pass unnoticed.

clearly anxious

Underscores the unambiguous nature of the anxiety.

visibly nervous

Replaces "anxious" with a synonym indicating a state of unease or agitation.

visibly concerned

Indicates a state of worry and unease about something.

visibly apprehensive

Focuses on an expectation of future misfortune or trouble.

visibly disturbed

Suggests a more profound state of emotional upset than simple anxiety.

FAQs

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

You can use "visibly anxious" to describe someone displaying clear signs of anxiety. For example, "The student was "visibly anxious" before the exam, pacing back and forth."

What are some alternatives to "visibly anxious"?

Alternatives include "evidently anxious", "obviously anxious", or "noticeably anxious", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "visibly anxious"?

While anxiety is an internal state, saying "visibly anxious" emphasizes that the anxiety is outwardly apparent. It isn't necessarily redundant if you want to highlight the observable signs of anxiety.

What is the difference between "visibly anxious" and "visibly nervous"?

While both describe outward signs of unease, ""visibly anxious"" suggests a deeper level of worry and apprehension than "visibly nervous", which might indicate a more fleeting or situational unease.