overanxious

O1V4E1R1A1N1X8I1O1U1S1

adjective

Excessively anxious or nervous.

Similar
insecure
OriginEnglish anxious ← Latin ānxius ← Proto-Italic *anɣō →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

adjectiveoveranxious (comparative more overanxious, superlative most overanxious)

comparative more overanxious · superlative most overanxious · alternative over-anxious

  1. Excessively anxious or nervous.

    Overanxious and overmeticulous supervision is almost certain to result in discontinued homes or overly dependent Family Care therapists.

    1947, Magnolia G Culver, Family Care Program: A Handbook for Social Workers, Ohio State Reformatory Press, page 13

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveanxious or nervous to an excessive degree

Similar
insecure
Also see
insecure

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
  2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
  3. Proto-Germanic*uber
  4. Old Englishofer-
  5. Middle Englishover-
  6. Englishover-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*h₂enǵʰ-
  8. Proto-Italic*anɣō
  9. Latinangō
  10. Latinānxius
  11. Englishanxious
  12. Englishoveranxious

From over- + anxious.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

overanxious. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overanxious

MLA

“overanxious.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overanxious. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “overanxious,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/overanxious.

Source: overanxious on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.