worry

¹wor·ry

verb \ˈwər-ē, ˈwə-rē\

wor·riedwor·ry·ing

Definition of WORRY

transitive verb

1

dialect British : choke, strangle

2

a : to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat b : to shake or pull at with the teeth <a terrier worrying a rat> c : to touch or disturb something repeatedly d : to change the position of or adjust by repeated pushing or hauling

3

a : to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment : torment b : to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort

4

: to afflict with mental distress or agitation : make anxious

intransitive verb

1

dialect British : strangle, choke

2

: to move, proceed, or progress by unceasing or difficult effort : struggle

3

: to feel or experience concern or anxiety : fret <worrying about his health>

— wor·ried·ly \-(r)ēd-lē, -(r)əd-\ adverb

— wor·ri·er \-(r)ē-ər\ noun

— wor·ry·ing·ly adverb

Examples of WORRY

1. We didn't want you to worry.
2. Don't worry. You'll be fine.
3. Don't make your parents worry.
4. When they didn't call after two hours, we began to worry.
5. They were fine. We needn't have worried.
6. His poor health worries me.
7. It doesn't seem to worry him that rain is in the forecast.
8. We didn't tell you about the accident because we didn't want to worry you.

Origin of WORRY

Middle English worien, from Old English wyrgan; akin to Old High German wurgen to strangle, Lithuanian veržti to constrict

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WORRY

Synonyms: bother, fear, fret, fuss, stew, stress, sweat, trouble, give a hang (or care a hang), sweat blood

Antonyms: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words: agonize; long, pine, yearn; chafe; despair

Near Antonyms: accept; abide, bear, endure, stick out, stomach, sustain, take, tolerate

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Synonym Discussion of WORRY

worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts. worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation <pursued a policy of worrying the enemy>. annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks <you're doing that just to annoy me>. harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power <harassed on all sides by creditors>. harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment <the strikers had been harried by thugs>. plague implies a painful and persistent affliction <plagued all her life by poverty>. pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks <constantly pestered with trivial complaints>. tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath <children teased the dog>.

Rhymes with WORRY

blurry, burry, curry, flurry, furry, dhurrie, gurry, hurry, Moray, murrey, scurry, slurry, spurrey, surrey, whirry