How do I say "that induces anxiety" in Italian?

Question

"Anxiogenic" in English means "something/someone that creates/induces/provokes anxiety".

Is there an equivalent in Italian? I can't find "ansiogenico" in Italian dictionaries.

I can find "ansiogeno" but this seems to mean "someone who has anxiety", rather than "something that creates/induces anxiety".

Why do you think "ansiogeno" refers to a person who has anxiety? I've never seen this usage anywhere... — Denis Nardin, Apr 15, 2021 at 8:52
You are perhaps mixing up ansiogeno with ansioso, the latter one meaning indeed “who experiences anxiety”. — DaG, Apr 15, 2021 at 10:19

abarisone · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-15 09:25:59Z

5

The word you found ansiogeno, according to Treccani's dictionary

ansiògeno agg. [comp. di ansia e -geno]. – In psicologia e psichiatria, che genera ansia: situazione ansiogena.

exactly means:

In psychology and psychiatry, something that generates anxiety: anxiogen situation.

You can also apply the term to a situation or also to a person who generates anxiety on itself.

answered Apr 15, 2021 at 8:30

abarisone

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How do I apply it to a person that generates anxiety in other people, or to a population in general?
– user180940
Apr 15, 2021 at 9:35
2

@user180940 you can use it as any other adjective: "Maria è una persona ansiogena" = "Maria is an anxiogenic person", "non sopporto Mario per più di dieci minuti, è così ansiogeno!" = "I cannot stand Mario for longer than ten minutes, he is so anxiogenic!"
– secan
Apr 15, 2021 at 11:21
2

Even though "ansiogeno" is the correct word, in spoken Italian it isn't used as often: "che ti mette ansia" ("who gives you anxiety") instead is much more likely to be used. "Maria è una persona che ti mette ansia" .
– Zab Zonk
Apr 15, 2021 at 11:33
I agree, "ansiogeno" is mainly used as a specialized/technical terms in the fields of psychology and psychiatry and sometimes is (mis)used during conversations with people with whom you have a strong familiarity, if you want to suggest s/he is being a pain in the... neck (think of a kid continuously asking "are we there, yet?", during a car trip or of someone questioning a decision you took by asking about all possible things which could go wrong).
– secan
Apr 15, 2021 at 12:58
2

It might be a matter of mileu: I am quite used to ansiogeno used in colloquial speech (sometimes with the added humorous effect of using a highly specialized word in an informal context).
– Denis Nardin ♦
Apr 15, 2021 at 13:47

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