Anxiety is something that many people feel, and it can be hard to describe. Sometimes, it’s helpful to use similes to explain how anxiety feels. A simile compares one thing to another using the words “like” or “as.” When it comes to anxiety, similes can help show the nervous, uneasy, or overwhelming feelings it brings.
In this article, you’ll learn about 50 similes for anxiety. These similes describe how anxiety can feel in a way that everyone can understand. They help paint a picture of what it’s like to feel worried, tense, or overwhelmed. Understanding these similes can help you express what anxiety feels like and even help others understand it better. Let’s explore the different ways we can describe anxiety using these comparisons.
Similes for Anxiety
1. As heavy as a stone in the stomach
Meaning: Feeling a weight of worry or dread in the body.
Samples: The anxiety was as heavy as a stone in her stomach before the big test. / His worries felt as heavy as a stone in his stomach all day.
To Put it Another Way: He felt weighed down by fear. / Her anxiety made her feel like she couldn’t move.
2. As tight as a drum
Meaning: Feeling physically tense, especially in the chest or stomach.
Samples: Her chest was as tight as a drum before speaking in front of the class. / The tension in his shoulders was as tight as a drum.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t relax. / She felt stiff and tense with nervousness.
3. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: Feeling very nervous and restless.
Samples: She was like a cat on a hot tin roof during the job interview. / He couldn’t sit still, feeling like a cat on a hot tin roof.
To Put it Another Way: He was on edge. / She couldn’t calm down, fidgeting and shifting.
4. As if walking on eggshells
Meaning: Feeling very careful or anxious about every action.
Samples: He felt like he was walking on eggshells around his boss, afraid to make a mistake. / She felt like walking on eggshells when talking to her friend after the argument.
To Put it Another Way: She was cautious. / He was worried about upsetting someone.
5. Like a deer caught in headlights
Meaning: Feeling frozen with fear or anxiety, unable to react.
Samples: He stood there like a deer caught in headlights when they asked him a question. / She felt like a deer caught in headlights, unable to speak in front of the crowd.
To Put it Another Way: He was paralyzed by fear. / She couldn’t move because of her anxiety.
6. As jittery as a leaf in the wind
Meaning: Feeling nervous or uneasy, with physical signs of anxiety.
Samples: Her hands were as jittery as a leaf in the wind before the performance. / He was as jittery as a leaf in the wind, unsure of how to handle the situation.
To Put it Another Way: She felt shaky with nervousness. / His anxiety made him feel unstable.
7. As cold as ice
Meaning: Feeling emotionally numb or detached due to anxiety.
Samples: His heart was as cold as ice when he heard the news, overwhelmed with anxiety. / Her hands felt as cold as ice during the presentation, too anxious to focus.
To Put it Another Way: He felt emotionally distant. / She was numb with fear.
8. Like a balloon about to pop
Meaning: Feeling as though anxiety is about to explode or get out of control.
Samples: She felt like a balloon about to pop, with anxiety building up inside. / He was about to burst like a balloon about to pop, overwhelmed by everything.
To Put it Another Way: He felt like he couldn’t hold it in any longer. / She was on the verge of losing control.
9. As restless as a caged animal
Meaning: Feeling trapped by anxiety and unable to settle down.
Samples: He was as restless as a caged animal before the big exam. / She paced around the room, as restless as a caged animal.
To Put it Another Way: He felt stuck. / She couldn’t calm her racing thoughts.
10. Like a storm brewing inside
Meaning: Feeling intense emotions or anxiety building up.
Samples: His anxiety was like a storm brewing inside, getting stronger with each passing minute. / She could feel the storm brewing inside, as her nerves grew stronger.
To Put it Another Way: He felt a rising tide of fear. / She could feel her anxiety growing uncontrollably.
11. As pale as a ghost
Meaning: Looking physically affected by fear or anxiety.
Samples: He looked as pale as a ghost after hearing the news about the surprise test. / She was as pale as a ghost, overwhelmed with nerves before the speech.
To Put it Another Way: He looked drained. / She was visibly shaken by fear.
12. As tangled as a ball of yarn
Meaning: Feeling confused or overwhelmed by anxious thoughts.
Samples: Her mind was as tangled as a ball of yarn, unsure of how to deal with the situation. / His thoughts were as tangled as a ball of yarn, making it hard to think clearly.
To Put it Another Way: She couldn’t focus. / His mind was in a muddle.
13. Like a rabbit in the headlights
Meaning: Feeling frozen with fear or anxiety.
Samples: She stood there like a rabbit in the headlights, unsure of what to say. / His body was stiff, like a rabbit in the headlights, as the meeting began.
To Put it Another Way: He was caught off guard. / She couldn’t move because of her anxiety.
14. As anxious as a clock ticking
Meaning: Feeling the constant pressure of time or a deadline.
Samples: She was as anxious as a clock ticking, counting down the hours until the exam. / He felt as anxious as a clock ticking, each second making his nerves worse.
To Put it Another Way: He felt time closing in. / She was stressed by the ticking clock.
15. Like a fire burning out of control
Meaning: Anxiety that is overwhelming and difficult to manage.
Samples: His anxiety was like a fire burning out of control, impossible to put out. / She felt her nerves spreading like a fire burning out of control.
To Put it Another Way: She felt overwhelmed by her emotions. / He couldn’t stop the feelings from growing.
16. As tight as a vice
Meaning: Feeling extremely pressured or stressed.
Samples: His chest felt as tight as a vice when the deadline approached. / She felt the anxiety tightening around her, as tight as a vice.
To Put it Another Way: He felt the weight of pressure. / She couldn’t breathe from the stress.
17. Like a ticking time bomb
Meaning: Feeling as though anxiety is about to explode.
Samples: She felt like a ticking time bomb, waiting for the moment everything would explode. / His anxiety was like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off any second.
To Put it Another Way: He felt the pressure building up. / She was waiting for something to trigger her anxiety.
18. As frail as a house of cards
Meaning: Feeling fragile or weak due to anxiety.
Samples: She felt as frail as a house of cards, like one wrong move would make her break down. / His confidence was as frail as a house of cards under the pressure of the meeting.
To Put it Another Way: He felt delicate. / She was on the verge of falling apart.
19. As silent as a whisper
Meaning: Feeling withdrawn or invisible because of anxiety.
Samples: He felt as silent as a whisper, shrinking back in the crowd due to his anxiety. / She stood there as silent as a whisper, her fear holding her back.
To Put it Another Way: He felt unnoticed. / She was quiet because of her nerves.
20. As fast as a heartbeat
Meaning: Feeling rapid and overwhelming anxiety that quickens one’s pulse.
Samples: Her anxiety raced through her like a heartbeat, faster and faster. / His mind raced as fast as a heartbeat, filled with worry.
To Put it Another Way: Her thoughts were racing. / He felt his pulse quicken from the stress.
21. Like a snake coiling tighter
Meaning: Anxiety building up slowly but relentlessly, making someone feel trapped.
Samples: His anxiety felt like a snake coiling tighter, squeezing him as the deadline loomed. / She could feel the pressure coiling like a snake, making her more and more anxious.
To Put it Another Way: He felt suffocated by stress. / She felt overwhelmed by the growing tension.
22. As restless as a dog without a bone
Meaning: Feeling uneasy and unable to relax.
Samples: She was as restless as a dog without a bone, pacing back and forth in the waiting room. / His nerves made him feel as restless as a dog without a bone.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t sit still. / She was fidgeting from anxiety.
23. Like a balloon tied to a string
Meaning: Feeling like anxiety is floating, with little control over it.
Samples: Her anxiety was like a balloon tied to a string, floating higher with each passing thought. / He felt like a balloon tied to a string, pulled by his worries.
To Put it Another Way: She felt like she was losing control. / His anxiety kept floating higher and higher.
24. As shaky as a leaf in the wind
Meaning: Feeling physically unstable due to anxiety.
Samples: His hands were as shaky as a leaf in the wind during the presentation. / She felt as shaky as a leaf in the wind, unable to calm her nerves.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t stop trembling. / She felt unsteady from anxiety.
25. Like a ticking clock in a silent room
Meaning: Feeling aware of every moment as anxiety builds.
Samples: His mind was like a ticking clock in a silent room, every second magnifying his nerves. / She could hear the ticking clock in her mind, each second adding to her worry.
To Put it Another Way: She felt the pressure of time. / He was counting down the moments, feeling the weight of each one.
26. As hot as a burning ember
Meaning: Feeling a heat of anxiety rising from within.
Samples: His anxiety felt as hot as a burning ember, starting low but building up inside. / She could feel the heat of anxiety rising, as hot as a burning ember.
To Put it Another Way: He felt a fire of nervousness inside. / Her nerves were getting more intense.
27. Like an earthquake shaking the ground
Meaning: Feeling anxious as though everything is shaking beneath you.
Samples: Her anxiety felt like an earthquake shaking the ground beneath her, making everything unstable. / His fear felt like an earthquake, trembling his confidence.
To Put it Another Way: He felt his whole world shaking. / She felt like everything was falling apart.
28. As silent as a frozen lake
Meaning: Feeling emotionally frozen, unable to express anxiety.
Samples: Her mind felt as silent as a frozen lake, unable to find the words due to anxiety. / He was as silent as a frozen lake, not knowing how to respond in the tense situation.
To Put it Another Way: She was paralyzed by her thoughts. / He couldn’t speak because of his nerves.
29. As stuck as a car in mud
Meaning: Feeling unable to move forward due to overwhelming anxiety.
Samples: His thoughts were as stuck as a car in mud, unable to escape the worries in his mind. / She felt as stuck as a car in mud, unable to move beyond her fears.
To Put it Another Way: He was feeling trapped. / She couldn’t get past her anxiety.
30. Like a rollercoaster ride with no end
Meaning: Experiencing the ups and downs of anxiety that feel endless.
Samples: His anxiety was like a rollercoaster ride with no end, filled with constant twists and turns. / She felt as though she was on a never-ending rollercoaster of worry.
To Put it Another Way: He felt emotionally drained. / She couldn’t stop the waves of anxiety.
31. As sharp as a knife
Meaning: Anxiety that feels intense and cutting.
Samples: The anxiety was as sharp as a knife, cutting through his thoughts. / Her fear felt as sharp as a knife, piercing her mind with every worry.
To Put it Another Way: He felt a sharp pain in his chest from anxiety. / She was overwhelmed by sharp, painful thoughts.
32. Like a fog that won’t lift
Meaning: Feeling clouded by anxiety, with no clear way out.
Samples: His mind was like a fog that wouldn’t lift, making it hard to think clearly. / She felt like she was walking through a fog, unsure of what to do because of her anxiety.
To Put it Another Way: His thoughts were clouded. / She couldn’t see her way through the stress.
33. As wobbly as a jelly
Meaning: Feeling physically unstable due to anxiety.
Samples: Her knees were as wobbly as jelly as she walked up to the stage. / His hands were as wobbly as jelly during the stressful situation.
To Put it Another Way: He was shaking with fear. / She felt like she might collapse from nervousness.
34. Like a clock with no tick
Meaning: Feeling stuck in time due to anxiety, as though nothing is moving forward.
Samples: The moments dragged on like a clock with no tick, making her anxiety feel endless. / Time seemed to stop, like a clock with no tick, as his worry grew.
To Put it Another Way: He felt time stand still. / She was stuck in a moment of panic.
35. As fragile as glass
Meaning: Feeling delicate and easily broken due to anxiety.
Samples: Her nerves were as fragile as glass, easily shattered by every little worry. / His confidence was as fragile as glass under the weight of his anxiety.
To Put it Another Way: He felt vulnerable. / She was on the brink of breaking down.
36. Like an old record skipping
Meaning: Feeling stuck in a loop of anxious thoughts, unable to move past them.
Samples: His thoughts were like an old record skipping, replaying the same anxious worry. / She felt like an old record skipping, unable to escape the same thoughts.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t stop thinking about it. / She was stuck in a cycle of worry.
37. As deep as a bottomless pit
Meaning: Feeling anxiety as though it has no end or solution.
Samples: His anxiety felt as deep as a bottomless pit, with no way out. / She felt like her worries were as deep as a bottomless pit, overwhelming her.
To Put it Another Way: He felt trapped by his anxiety. / She couldn’t escape her overwhelming fears.
38. Like a wall closing in
Meaning: Feeling trapped and suffocated by anxiety.
Samples: His anxiety felt like a wall closing in, making him feel like he couldn’t breathe. / She felt like the walls were closing in on her, overwhelmed by worry.
To Put it Another Way: He felt suffocated. / She couldn’t escape the pressure.
39. As frantic as a squirrel
Meaning: Feeling anxious and constantly moving, unable to stop.
Samples: She was as frantic as a squirrel, running around in a panic to get everything done. / He felt as frantic as a squirrel, unable to calm down.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t stop moving. / She was filled with nervous energy.
40. Like a boat tossed in a storm
Meaning: Feeling emotionally tossed around by anxiety.
Samples: Her emotions were like a boat tossed in a storm, completely out of control. / His anxiety made him feel like a boat tossed in a storm, with no calm in sight.
To Put it Another Way: He felt helpless. / She was being thrown by her anxiety.
41. As quick as a flash
Meaning: Anxiety that comes on suddenly and intensely.
Samples: His anxiety hit him as quick as a flash, leaving him breathless and scared. / She felt a rush of nerves as quick as a flash before her presentation.
To Put it Another Way: It happened suddenly. / The anxiety took him by surprise.
42. Like a dark cloud hovering overhead
Meaning: Feeling anxiety as though something ominous is always present.
Samples: His anxiety was like a dark cloud hovering overhead, always threatening to rain down. / She felt the dark cloud of anxiety hovering, unsure of when it would pour.
To Put it Another Way: He felt doom hanging over him. / She couldn’t escape the feeling of impending worry.
43. As quick as a rabbit’s heartbeat
Meaning: Feeling rapid anxiety, with thoughts racing uncontrollably.
Samples: His heart raced as quick as a rabbit’s heartbeat, fear taking over his mind. / She could hear her pulse as quick as a rabbit’s heartbeat, her anxiety out of control.
To Put it Another Way: His anxiety was fast and overwhelming. / Her thoughts were racing at a dizzying speed.
44. Like a kettle about to boil over
Meaning: Feeling like anxiety is building up and about to explode.
Samples: Her stress was like a kettle about to boil over, her nerves reaching their breaking point. / He felt like a kettle about to boil over, ready to burst from anxiety.
To Put it Another Way: He was at his limit. / She felt like she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
45. As cold as a winter wind
Meaning: Feeling emotionally distant or numb due to anxiety.
Samples: Her heart felt as cold as a winter wind, the anxiety leaving her feeling empty. / He was as cold as a winter wind, his fear making him shut down emotionally.
To Put it Another Way: She felt distant. / He was numb from the anxiety.
46. Like a puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: Feeling incomplete or lost due to anxiety.
Samples: His anxiety was like a puzzle with missing pieces, leaving him feeling incomplete. / She felt like a puzzle with missing pieces, unable to figure out what was wrong.
To Put it Another Way: He felt confused. / She was unsure of how to make things fit.
47. As fragile as porcelain
Meaning: Feeling delicate and easily broken due to anxiety.
Samples: His nerves were as fragile as porcelain, easily shattered by the smallest worry. / She felt as fragile as porcelain, too anxious to face the challenge.
To Put it Another Way: He felt easily hurt. / She was on the verge of breaking.
48. Like an unsteady chair
Meaning: Feeling unstable or unsure due to anxiety.
Samples: Her emotions were like an unsteady chair, one wrong move making her feel like she would fall apart. / His thoughts were like an unsteady chair, always shifting and unstable.
To Put it Another Way: He felt uncertain. / She was on the edge of losing control.
49. As loud as a ringing bell
Meaning: Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, with everything seeming too loud or too much.
Samples: His anxiety was as loud as a ringing bell, filling his mind with constant noise. / She felt as though everything around her was as loud as a ringing bell.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t block out the noise. / She felt bombarded by her thoughts.
50. Like a wildfire spreading
Meaning: Anxiety that starts small but quickly escalates out of control.
Samples: Her worry was like a wildfire spreading, small at first but soon overwhelming her thoughts. / His anxiety grew like a wildfire spreading, faster and faster.
To Put it Another Way: It spread quickly. / She couldn’t stop the growing fear.
Find the Topics: Similes for Anxiety
Emily was feeling the pressure as she waited for her turn in the talent show. Her heart raced, like a rabbit’s heartbeat, as she saw the audience gather. She tried to calm her nerves, but her thoughts were as tangled as a ball of yarn, making it hard to focus. Every time she looked at the stage, the anxiety hit her like a balloon about to pop, and she felt as though she might burst from the inside.
As she waited backstage, Emily’s hands shook as wobbly as a jelly, and her thoughts kept swirling like a fog that won’t lift. Her chest was as tight as a drum, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything would go wrong. It was as if the pressure was like a ticking clock in a silent room, each second making her more anxious.
Finally, the curtain opened, and she stepped onto the stage, feeling as cold as a winter wind. But then, the lights hit her, and she remembered all the practice, slowly calming down, feeling like a boat tossed in a storm but finding her balance. She took a deep breath and sang, the nerves fading little by little.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 12 similes for anxiety you found in the passage above.
Answer Key
- Like a rabbit’s heartbeat
- As tangled as a ball of yarn
- Like a balloon about to pop
- As wobbly as a jelly
- Like a fog that won’t lift
- As tight as a drum
- Like a ticking clock in a silent room
- As cold as a winter wind
- Like a boat tossed in a storm
- As fast as lightning
- As shaky as a leaf in the wind
- As fragile as glass
Conclusion
Anxiety is a feeling many of us experience, but it can be hard to explain. Using similes can help describe how anxiety feels in ways that everyone can understand. Whether it’s a feeling of being overwhelmed, restless, or on edge, similes like “as tight as a drum” or “like a balloon about to pop” make it easier to picture those intense emotions.
Learning these similes not only helps in understanding what anxiety feels like, but it also gives us the tools to communicate it more clearly. So, the next time you’re feeling anxious or talking to someone who is, try using a simile to express those feelings. It might just help others understand exactly what you’re going through.
