“Negative Nouns That start with A” is a list of words that symbolize negative, unpleasant, or undesirable things, all starting with the letter “A.” They are used to describe all types of negativity, such as emotions, catastrophes, failures, conflicts, and social problems. Knowing such words enhances vocabulary and communication, enabling us to describe difficulties, risks, and challenges clearly.
Either talking about personal struggles, office toxicity, or international crises, these words offer a strong means of describing tough subjects. Broadening your vocabulary of negative nouns improves writing and conversation, making complicated issues simpler to describe and analyze.
Negative Emotions and Feelings Negative Nouns That Start with A
These nouns describe unpleasant emotions that affect people’s thoughts and actions.
- Anger – His anger ruined the conversation.
- Anxiety – Her anxiety kept her up all night.
- Agitation – His constant questions caused agitation.
- Annoyance – The loud noise was an annoyance.
- Apprehension – A sense of apprehension filled the air.
- Apathy – His apathy toward the project was frustrating.
- Anguish – She cried out in anguish.
- Aggression – His aggression made everyone uncomfortable.
- Aversion – He had an aversion to spicy food.
- Alarm – There was alarm in her voice.
- Affliction – The disease was a terrible affliction.
- Alienation – His rude behavior led to alienation.
- Agony – The injury caused unbearable agony.
- Abhorrence – She looked at him with abhorrence.
- Arrogance – His arrogance made him unpopular.
- Abomination – The crime was an abomination.
- Aggressiveness – His aggressiveness scared his coworkers.
- Absence – His absence was deeply felt.
- Abrasion – The fall left a painful abrasion.
- Annoyance – The delay was a major annoyance.
Crime and Unlawful Acts Negative Nouns That Start with A

These words refer to illegal activities and immoral behavior.
- Arson – The fire was caused by arson.
- Abduction – The police investigated the abduction.
- Assault – He was arrested for assault.
- Abuse – Child abuse is a serious crime.
- Anarchy – The country was in a state of anarchy.
- Arrest – His arrest shocked the community.
- Abettor – The abettor was also found guilty.
- Adultery – He was caught committing adultery.
- Aggressor – The aggressor was taken into custody.
- Amputation – The accident led to amputation.
- Atrocity – The war was full of atrocities.
- Assassin – The assassin was never caught.
- Abettal – His abettal of the crime was proven.
- Animosity – There was animosity between the two gangs.
- Abandonment – The child suffered from abandonment.
- Ambush – The soldiers were caught in an ambush.
- Ammunition – The police found illegal ammunition.
- Arraignment – His arraignment was scheduled for Monday.
- Alien smuggling – The gang was charged with alien smuggling.
- Antagonism – His antagonism led to a fight.
Negative Social Issues and Behaviors
These nouns highlight harmful social problems and actions.
- Alcoholism – His alcoholism destroyed his family.
- Abhorrence – His abhorrence for lies was obvious.
- Aggression – Workplace aggression is a big issue.
- Abandonment – She suffered from feelings of abandonment.
- Alienation – Social alienation is common in big cities.
- Addiction – His addiction ruined his career.
- Abusiveness – His abusiveness made the relationship toxic.
- Apathy – Public apathy worsens social problems.
- Avarice – His avarice knew no bounds.
- Affliction – Poverty is a global affliction.
- Authority abuse – The leader was guilty of authority abuse.
- Absolutism – Political absolutism led to oppression.
- Austerity – The austerity measures angered citizens.
- Antisocial behavior – His antisocial behavior worried his parents.
- Authoritarianism – The country suffered under authoritarianism.
- Allegations – Serious allegations were made against him.
- Arrogance – His arrogance caused his downfall.
- Acrimony – The acrimony between them was obvious.
- Accusation – The accusation damaged his reputation.
- Aggressiveness – His aggressiveness scared everyone.
War and Conflict Negative Nouns That Start with A
These nouns are linked to battles, hostility, and destruction.
- Attack – The attack left many injured.
- Aggression – Political aggression can lead to war.
- Annihilation – The war caused total annihilation.
- Ambush – The army suffered a surprise ambush.
- Armageddon – The battle felt like Armageddon.
- Arms race – The arms race increased global tensions.
- Arsenal – The enemy had a large arsenal.
- Atrocity – The war crimes were an atrocity.
- Artillery – The artillery destroyed the buildings.
- Anarchy – Without laws, there would be anarchy.
- Aggressor – The aggressor initiated the conflict.
- Airstrike – The airstrike caused mass casualties.
- Army – The invading army caused destruction.
- Assailant – The assailant was caught on camera.
- Alliance (hostile) – A hostile alliance formed.
- Abdication – The abdication led to political chaos.
- Asylum seeker – The asylum seeker fled war.
- Armistice – The armistice was short-lived.
- Animosity – There was animosity between the nations.
- Attrition – The war of attrition lasted years.
Diseases and Medical Issues Negative Nouns That Start with A
These nouns represent illnesses and health problems.
- Asthma – Her asthma made breathing difficult.
- Aneurysm – He died from an aneurysm.
- Amputation – The doctor performed an amputation.
- Allergy – His peanut allergy was severe.
- Addiction – His addiction controlled his life.
- Arthritis – Arthritis made movement painful.
- AIDS – The AIDS epidemic affected many.
- Abscess – The abscess needed medical attention.
- Anemia – Anemia left her feeling weak.
- Angina – His angina attacks were frequent.
- Anorexia – Anorexia affected her health.
- Autism (negative context) – In the past, autism was misunderstood.
- Anaphylaxis – The bee sting caused anaphylaxis.
- Aphasia – The stroke led to aphasia.
- Alzheimer’s – Alzheimer’s affected her memory.
- Amnesia – The accident caused amnesia.
- Anomaly – The test showed a serious anomaly.
- Appendicitis – The surgery removed his appendicitis.
- Acne – His acne made him insecure.
- Alcoholism – Alcoholism destroyed his health.
Natural Disasters and Environmental Problems
These nouns describe destructive natural events and environmental hazards.
- Avalanche – The avalanche buried several homes.
- Aftershock – The aftershock caused more damage.
- Acid rain – Acid rain destroyed the crops.
- Aridness – The aridness of the land led to drought.
- Air pollution – Air pollution made breathing difficult.
- Agricultural collapse – The agricultural collapse caused food shortages.
- Ashfall – The ashfall from the volcano covered the city.
- Arsenic poisoning – Arsenic poisoning contaminated the water.
- Animal extinction – Animal extinction is a growing problem.
- Abandoned waste – The abandoned waste polluted the river.
- Atmospheric instability – The storm was caused by atmospheric instability.
- Anthrax outbreak – The anthrax outbreak caused fear.
- Asbestos exposure – Asbestos exposure led to lung disease.
- Algal bloom – The algal bloom killed marine life.
- Acidification – Ocean acidification threatens coral reefs.
- Ash cloud – The ash cloud halted flights.
- Agricultural drought – The agricultural drought ruined crops.
- Airborne contamination – Airborne contamination spread quickly.
- Artificial erosion – Artificial erosion weakened the land.
- Aquifer depletion – Aquifer depletion led to water shortages.
Financial Struggles and Economic Problems
These nouns highlight financial instability, fraud, and economic crises.
- Austerity – The government’s austerity measures angered people.
- Asset loss – The company suffered massive asset loss.
- Account deficit – The account deficit reached record highs.
- Arrears – He was sued for being in arrears.
- Audit failure – The audit failure revealed fraud.
- Arbitration dispute – The arbitration dispute delayed business.
- Asset mismanagement – The company collapsed due to asset mismanagement.
- Adverse debt – He struggled with adverse debt.
- Accrued liabilities – The accrued liabilities caused bankruptcy.
- Artificial inflation – Artificial inflation led to high prices.
- Agricultural crisis – The agricultural crisis led to famine.
- Appraisal fraud – The bank was accused of appraisal fraud.
- Asset depreciation – The asset depreciation hurt investors.
- Account fraud – The account fraud was investigated.
- Annual deficit – The country’s annual deficit was alarming.
- Arrest warrant (financial crime) – He had an arrest warrant for embezzlement.
- Adverse trade balance – The adverse trade balance harmed exports.
- Accounting scandal – The company collapsed after the accounting scandal.
- Auction loss – The auction loss hurt the investor.
- Asset freezing – His asset freezing prevented financial access.
Failure, Mistakes, and Poor Outcomes
These nouns represent personal and professional failures.
- Abandonment – The project suffered from abandonment.
- Abomination – His speech was an abomination.
- Accident – The accident caused severe injuries.
- Adversity – He struggled through adversity.
- Affliction – His life was full of affliction.
- Aging (negative context) – The building suffered from aging.
- Agitation – His agitation made things worse.
- Anarchy – Without leadership, anarchy spread.
- Animosity – The animosity between them grew.
- Antagonism – His antagonism created conflict.
- Apathy – His apathy led to failure.
- Apprehension – Apprehension filled the courtroom.
- Arrogance – His arrogance led to his downfall.
- Atrocity – The dictator’s actions were an atrocity.
- Avoidance – His avoidance of responsibility caused problems.
- Absurdity – The situation was pure absurdity.
- Alienation – His bad attitude caused alienation.
- Abasement – He lived a life of abasement.
- Alarmism – The media’s alarmism caused panic.
- Abject failure – The plan was an abject failure.
Legal and Political Problems
These words describe legal troubles, government issues, and scandals.
- Arraignment – His arraignment was scheduled for next week.
- Allegation – The politician denied the allegation.
- Appeal rejection – His appeal rejection meant more jail time.
- Abuse of power – The leader was accused of abuse of power.
- Anarchy – The revolution led to anarchy.
- Arrest – His arrest was widely reported.
- Accusation – The accusation damaged his reputation.
- Asylum rejection – His asylum rejection left him stranded.
- Administrative failure – The administrative failure led to chaos.
- Absconding – He was caught after absconding from trial.
- Agitation (political) – Political agitation led to protests.
- Amendment violation – The law was an amendment violation.
- Appeasement – His appeasement efforts failed.
- Arbitration dispute – The arbitration dispute lasted for months.
- Asset seizure – The government ordered asset seizure.
- Assassination – The assassination shocked the nation.
- Autocracy – The country suffered under autocracy.
- Animosity (diplomatic) – Diplomatic animosity worsened relations.
- Atrocity (war crime) – The atrocity was condemned worldwide.
- Authoritarianism – Authoritarianism silenced opposition voices.
Psychological and Mental Health Issues
These words describe negative mental conditions and disorders.
- Anxiety disorder – His anxiety disorder worsened over time.
- Addiction – His addiction ruined his life.
- Amnesia – The accident caused amnesia.
- Anguish – She lived in constant anguish.
- Apathy – His apathy concerned his family.
- Anorexia – Anorexia affected her physical health.
- Autism (negative context) – In the past, autism was misunderstood.
- Agitation (mental health) – Agitation was a symptom of his illness.
- Antisocial disorder – He was diagnosed with antisocial disorder.
- Acrophobia – His acrophobia stopped him from climbing.
- Abandonment issues – Her abandonment issues affected relationships.
- Asperger’s (misunderstood context) – People misunderstood Asperger’s syndrome.
- Anhedonia – His depression led to anhedonia.
- Avoidance disorder – Avoidance disorder affected his social life.
- Anxiety attack – She had a severe anxiety attack.
- Adjustment disorder – The trauma caused adjustment disorder.
- Alcohol dependence – His alcohol dependence affected his health.
- Agoraphobia – His agoraphobia kept him indoors.
- Attention deficit disorder – He was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
- Affective disorder – The affective disorder led to mood swings.
Toxic Relationships and Social Issues
These nouns describe harmful dynamics in relationships, society, and interactions.
- Abusiveness – His abusiveness made the relationship unbearable.
- Abandonment – She feared abandonment in every relationship.
- Antagonism – Constant antagonism ruined their friendship.
- Animosity – Animosity grew between the two families.
- Alienation – His toxic behavior caused his alienation.
- Arrogance – His arrogance pushed people away.
- Adultery – Adultery destroyed their marriage.
- Accusation – The false accusation ruined her reputation.
- Abhorrence – His actions filled her with abhorrence.
- Avarice – His avarice made him untrustworthy.
- Aggressiveness – His aggressiveness scared his children.
- Anguish – Living with him was pure anguish.
- Abomination – The betrayal was an abomination.
- Abusiveness – Years of abusiveness left scars.
- Annoyance – Their constant arguments were an annoyance.
- Apathy – His apathy toward her feelings hurt deeply.
- Apprehension – She lived in apprehension of his temper.
- Avoidance – Avoidance of problems made things worse.
- Authoritarianism – The relationship was built on authoritarianism.
- Anarchy (in relationships) – There was anarchy in their home.
Workplace Problems and Career Struggles
These nouns describe negativity in professional settings.
- Abuse of power – The manager’s abuse of power was unbearable.
- Absenteeism – His constant absenteeism led to termination.
- Arrogance – His arrogance made teamwork impossible.
- Alienation – Workplace alienation made her feel isolated.
- Apathy – His apathy toward deadlines annoyed the boss.
- Antagonism – There was antagonism between departments.
- Accusation – The accusation of misconduct damaged his career.
- Adversity – She faced workplace adversity daily.
- Anxiety – Workplace anxiety affected her performance.
- Attrition – High attrition rates signaled trouble.
- Annoyance – His constant interruptions were an annoyance.
- Aggressiveness – His aggressiveness created a toxic culture.
- Austerity – The company’s austerity led to layoffs.
- Allegation – The fraud allegation led to an investigation.
- Audit failure – The audit failure exposed financial problems.
- Arbitrariness – The boss’s arbitrariness frustrated employees.
- Ambiguity – Ambiguity in job roles led to confusion.
- Abandonment (of duties) – His abandonment of duties caused chaos.
- Artificial favoritism – Promotions were based on artificial favoritism.
- Animosity – There was animosity between coworkers.
Final Thoughts
Negative adjectives beginning with “A” encompass a broad spectrum of subject matter, from individual issues and abusive relationships to international wars and catastrophes. These words enable us to define issues, threats, and failures accurately so that we can discuss them in greater depth and gain a better understanding of the issues we confront. In writing stories, research papers, and even in daily conversation, having a robust set of negative nouns can make the communication of unpleasant subjects more effective.
By identifying these words, we are able to be more effective with expressing difficulties, recognizing problems, and even strive towards solutions. Which of the words resonated with you most? Share with me your comments!

Jessica is a seasoned writer with over 5 years of experience in the Noun niche. Her expertise lies in creating impactful, well-researched, and reader-focused content. With a strong commitment to excellence, Jessica has built a reputation for delivering high-quality work that informs, engages, and inspires her audience.