: mentally troubled or concerned : feeling or showing concern or anxiety about what is happening or might happen
worried parents
a worried frown
I'm not too worried about the weather.
He was worried sick. [=extremely worried]
But the technological intrusion of prenatal testing leaves expectant parents more worried than reassured.—
Ronni Sandroff
Ronni SandroffThere was an ominous and worried expression on their faces.—Jack London
Jack London… his mother was so worried she sent for the doctor.—E. B. White
E. B. White
worriedly
adverb
"Well, what did you think when you heard the news?" Jimmy asked us worriedly.
—Bobbie Ann Mason
Bobbie Ann Mason
… Roy thought it was from a snakebite, and worriedly glanced around.
—Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen
Examples of worried in a Sentence
the soldier's father had a worried expression as he listened to the news
Recent Examples on the Web
Reformers were worried that putting more money into the hands of local school districts, without oversight to ensure that it was being spent effectively, would lead to its diversion into administration and more generous union contracts rather than hands-on instruction for kids who needed it most.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Some parents fear the damage is already done, while others are worried that the process feels rushed, but almost everybody has concerns about a technology that expands exponentially every day.
—Doug Williams, CBS News, 14 May 2026
As concerns around hantavirus continue to make headlines, many parents may be wondering how to answer questions from worried kids without causing panic.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for worried
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Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Yu said that, as China has strengthened its social safety net, people are less worried about having to rely on others.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Some parents fear the damage is already done, while others are worried that the process feels rushed, but almost everybody has concerns about a technology that expands exponentially every day.
—Doug Williams, CBS News, 14 May 2026
As concerns around hantavirus continue to make headlines, many parents may be wondering how to answer questions from worried kids without causing panic.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for worried
Cite this Entry
“Worried.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worried. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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