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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.

The building includes another apartment, so we would have rental income, but that seemed to worry them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

“What we needed is the innovation and the expanded growth opportunity… So now the worry is gone, you can give us back the market cap.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

We’ve been hearing dire warnings about it for years, with little impact on interest rates or investor returns, so why worry now?

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

But did she ever worry that taking a break from music, and coming back with a brand new sound, would jeopardise her career?

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

I didn’t have to worry about Mama paying me a visit because she was really put out with me.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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