We object quietly in sense in a state of anxiety (8)
I believe the answer is:
suspense
'state of anxiety' is the definition.
'suspense' can be an answer for 'anxiety' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'state of' bit.
'we object quietly in sense' is the wordplay.
'we object' becomes 'us' (object pronoun for 'we').
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'us'+'p'='usp'
'usp' inserted into 'sense' is 'SUSPENSE'.
'in a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for suspense that I've seen before include "Excitement and uncertainty about an outcome" , "State of anxious uncertainty while waiting (8)" , "Discontinuance - indecision - excitement" , "Nervous uncertainty; cessation" , "expectancy" .)