'anxiety-inducer' is a modern English compound formed from 'anxiety' + 'inducer'. 'anxiety' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anxietas', where 'anxius' meant 'troubled, uneasy'. 'inducer' ultimately comes from Latin 'inducere', where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'ducere' meant 'to lead'.

'anxiety' passed into English via Old French 'anxiété' (from Latin 'anxietas') and became the Modern English 'anxiety'. 'inducere' entered English through Old French and Middle English as 'induce'; adding the agentive suffix '-er' produced 'inducer' (one or that which induces). The compound 'anxiety-inducer' arose in modern English by combining these elements.

Initially, Latin 'anxietas' described a state of anguish or distress and 'inducere' meant 'to lead into'. Over time 'anxiety' retained the sense of worry/distress and 'inducer' the sense of 'one/that which causes', so the modern compound means 'something that causes anxiety'.