Trespassers drop pears with anxiety (6)

I believe the answer is:

stress

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'anxiety' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for stress that I've seen before include "Ictus" , "Emphasise the strain" , "Emotional tension" , "Emphasize" , "Physical or mental over-exertion" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).

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