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Definitions

worry

[wur-ee, wuhr-ee] / ˈwɜr i, ˈwʌr i /
NOUN
anxiety, trouble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anguish apprehension concern doubt fear headache misery misgiving pain problem uncertainty uneasiness woe
STRONG
annoyance care disquiet distress disturbance heartache irritation nag perplexity pest plague presentiment torment torture trial vexation worriment
WEAK
bad news
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calmness certainty cheer comfort confidence happiness joy pleasure sureness trust unconcern
STRONG
advantage calm contentment peace
WEAK
reassurance
VERB
be or make anxious, troubled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoy bother depress disturb fret irritate perturb plague trouble try unsettle upset
STRONG
afflict aggrieve agonize ail attack bedevil beleaguer beset brood bug chafe despair disquiet distress dun goad harass harry hassle hector importune needle oppress persecute pester stew tantalize tear tease test torment torture vex wince writhe wrong
WEAK
bite one's nails concern oneself feel uneasy gnaw at go for have qualms sweat out take on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist calm comfort delight help make happy order pacify please soothe
STRONG
not worry support
WEAK
reassure

Usage

What are other ways to say worry? Worry is an active state of agitated uneasiness and restless apprehension: He was distracted by worry over the stock market. Concern implies an anxious sense of interest in something: concern over a friend's misfortune. Care suggests a heaviness of spirit caused by dread, or by the constant pressure of burdensome demands: Poverty weighs a person down with care.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Modern catchers have a lot to worry about on defense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Don’t worry if your Hogwarts acceptance letter got lost in the mail — a new “Harry Potter” experience will soon let you hop aboard the Hogwarts Express anyway.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

But the worry for Liverpool is they have gone backwards.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

But you know the saying about how the market climbs a wall of worry?

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

“This is not a worry, not a worry,” Clare said, frantically sticking as many as he could back in the dirt before scrambling over to the glass caps.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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