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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.

“This lets them know what’s going on without the worry that can come along with uncertain money problems,” Seitz said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Students say they worry that a grade-cap system will make an already-competitive environment more toxic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Don’t worry: This isn’t a call to flee stocks.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

For Ukraine, the potential scarcity of fuel and surge in prices caused by the war on Iran is a worry: its own frontline troops need large amounts of diesel for their tanks and vehicles.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

I wished she were here to worry over me.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.