Cool MateAnxiety vs Great emotional stress vs Tension
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Anxiety
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Great emotional stress
Top 3,000 (common)
Tension
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Anxiety
| Anxiety | Great emotional stress | Tension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/æŋˈzaɪəti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/æŋˈzaɪəti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡreɪt ɪˈməʊʃənl strɛs//🇺🇸 //ɡreɪt ɪˈmoʊʃənl strɛs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtenʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtenʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A feeling of worry or fear. | A lot of emotional pressure or worry. | The feeling of stress or worry. |
| Example | Many people experience anxiety during stressful situations, such as taking exams. | She faced great emotional stress during the divorce. | The tension in the room was palpable before the announcement. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | acute, considerable, deep, level, arouse, bring, cause, grow, arise, arise from something, attack, disorder, dream, anxiety about, anxiety at, anxiety for, anxiety and depression, fear and anxiety, acute, considerable, deep, level, arouse, bring, cause, grow, arise, arise from something, attack, disorder, dream, anxiety about, anxiety at, anxiety for, anxiety and depression, fear and anxiety | great emotional strain, experience great emotional stress, cope with great emotional stress | considerable, great, high, cause, create, generate, build up, grow, increase, tension among, tension between, tension in, a source of tension, considerable, great, high, cause, create, generate, build up, grow, increase, tension among, tension between, tension in, a source of tension, inner, emotional, nervous, feel, suffer from, sense, headache, tension in, a release of tension, a sign of tension, dramatic, build, heighten, increase, build, grow, mount, string, adjust, release, in tension, under tension, tension on |
| Antonyms | calm, peace, serenity | emotional stability, calmness, ease | calmness, relaxation, ease |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'anxiety' with 'anxious' - remember 'anxiety' is the noun., Using 'anxiety' to describe simple stress, when it's more about a deeper, chronic feeling., Mispronouncing it as 'anxity' instead of 'an-xi-ety'. | Confused with 'great emotional distress', which has a more specific meaning., Using 'stress' inaccurately with physical health instead of emotional context. | Confused with 'intention'; they sound similar but mean different things., Using 'tension' when referring to physical items, like 'tension in a rope', which is less common., Mixing 'tense' and 'tension' incorrectly in phrases. |
| Usage notes | Use 'anxiety' in situations discussing mental health or stress. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may be too intense for light conversation. | Used in contexts discussing mental health or personal experiences. Avoid in casual conversations. | Use 'tension' when talking about stress in situations or relationships. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Anxiety vs Great emotional stress vs Tension
What's the difference between Anxiety, Great emotional stress, and Tension?
Anxiety: A feeling of worry or fear. Great emotional stress: A lot of emotional pressure or worry. Tension: The feeling of stress or worry.
Which is more common: Anxiety, Great emotional stress, and Tension?
Anxiety is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Anxiety: Many people experience anxiety during stressful situations, such as taking exams. Great emotional stress: She faced great emotional stress during the divorce. Tension: The tension in the room was palpable before the announcement.
Can I use Anxiety, Great emotional stress, and Tension interchangeably?
Not always. Anxiety, Great emotional stress, and Tension are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.