What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Anxiety vs Alacrity - What's the difference?

anxiety | alacrity |

As nouns the difference between anxiety and alacrity

is that anxiety is an unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event while alacrity is eagerness; liveliness; enthusiasm.

anxiety

Noun

(anxieties)
  • An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1907, author=
  • , title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=4 citation , passage=The inquest on keeper Davidson was duly held, and at the commencement seemed likely to cause Tony Palliser less anxiety than he had expected.}}
  • * 2005 , .
  • But the other, because he's been immersed in arguments, gives the appearance of harbouring considerable anxiety and suspicion that he's ignorant of those matters he presents himself to others as an expert on.
  • An uneasy or distressing desire (for something).
  • I was anxious to get into the office before Henderson called from New York.
  • (pathology) A state of restlessness and agitation, often accompanied by a distressing sense of oppression or tightness in the stomach.
  • Synonyms

    * care, solicitude, foreboding, uneasiness, perplexity, disquietude, disquiet, trouble, apprehension, restlessness, distress

    alacrity

    English

    Noun

    (alacrities)
  • Eagerness; liveliness; enthusiasm.
  • * 1837 , , The Pickwick Papers , ch. 12:
  • "I'll get into the clothes this minute, if they're here," said Sam, with great alacrity .
  • * 1922 , , The Glimpses of the Moon , ch. 24:
  • This evening, however, he was struck by the beaming alacrity of the aide-de-camp's greeting.
  • Promptness; speed.
  • * 1849 , , "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience":
  • Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way.
  • * 1902 , , Heart of Darkness , Part 1:
  • He had a uniform jacket with one button off, and seeing a white man on the path, hoisted his weapon to his shoulder with alacrity .

    Synonyms

    * (eagerness) avidity, eagerness, enthusiasm, willingness * (promptness) briskness, celerity, haste, promptness, quickness, swiftness

    Antonyms

    * (eagerness) apathy, disinclination, hesitance, indifference, reluctance

    References