Sunday scaries
/ˈsʌndeɪ ˈskɛriz/
Very CommonAnxiety and dread that hits Sunday evening as the work week approaches.
Sometimes used lightly as relatable content. Can also describe genuine anxiety. Context usually makes it clear which register someone is using.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | it's only 4pm on Sunday and the scaries already hit | The dread arrived earlier than expected. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | Sunday scaries but also it's not even a bad week ahead. my brain just does this. | The anxiety is present even without a specific reason. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | watching comfort tv to fight the sunday scaries. it's not working but i'm committed. | Attempting a coping strategy that isn't fully effective. | instagram, 2023 |
| 04 | if you have sunday scaries every single week maybe the problem is the job | Persistent Sunday anxiety might signal a deeper issue with the role. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Feeling anxious on Sunday evening about the upcoming week.
- Describing the specific dread of the weekend ending.
- Relating to others who feel the same way.
Do not use it when
- You mean general anxiety not tied to work or the weekend.
Sunday scaries vs Monday motivation
Sunday scaries
Sunday scaries is the dread before the week starts.
VS
monday-motivation
Monday motivation is the performance of enthusiasm at the start of the week.
Origin and context
The phrase has been in use informally for years but became a mainstream cultural term around 2017 to 2019, amplified by wellness content and articles about work-related anxiety.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/sunday-scariesUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0