insecurity

C2+ Topic:Emotions & Feelings

US /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊrɪti/ UK /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety; lack of safety or stability

His bravado masked a deep insecurity about his work.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a feeling of uncertainty or... anxiety uncertainty vulnerability instability apprehensionself-doubt

Opposites

security confidence stability assurance

Word family

Related forms insecure secure security

Etymology

From in- ('not') + security, from Latin securitas, from securus ('free from care'), from se- ('without') + cura ('care').

in- Latin securus Latin cura Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Emotions & Feelings Psychology & Behavior Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# insecurity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊrɪti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərɪti/

## Meanings
1. a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety; lack of safety or stability

## Examples
- His bravado masked a deep insecurity about his work.

## Synonyms
- anxiety
- uncertainty
- vulnerability
- instability
- apprehension
- self-doubt

## Antonyms
- security
- confidence
- stability
- assurance

## Related Forms
- insecure
- secure
- security

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: in-
- Root: securus
- Root: cura

## Etymology
From in- ('not') + security, from Latin securitas, from securus ('free from care'), from se- ('without') + cura ('care').

## AI Etymology
Insecurity comes from in- ('not') + security, from Latin securitas, from securus ('free from care'), from se- ('without') + cura ('care'). The etymological trail includes Latin in-, Latin securus, and Latin cura. As a noun, insecurity means a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety; lack of safety or stability. The same family is visible in related forms such as insecure, secure, and security. Morphologically, the word is built from the elements named in its history, so the modern form preserves a visible compound, prefix, or suffix structure.

## Topics
- Emotions & Feelings
- Psychology & Behavior
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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