'anxiety-inducing' originates from the combination of 'anxiety' and 'inducing', where 'anxiety' comes from Latin 'anxietas' meaning 'uneasiness' and 'inducing' from Latin 'inducere' meaning 'to lead into'.

'anxietas' transformed into the Old French word 'anxiete', and eventually became the modern English word 'anxiety'. 'Inducere' transformed into the Old French word 'induire', and eventually became the modern English word 'induce'.

Initially, 'anxiety' meant 'uneasiness or worry', and 'inducing' meant 'leading into or causing'. The combination retains the meaning of causing uneasiness.