Definition of concerningnext
as in regarding
having to do with we had a meeting with the principal today concerning the new policy on student-run organizations

Synonyms & Similar Words

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concerning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of concern
1
2
as in affecting
to be the business or affair of the problems of air and water pollution that concern all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of concerning
Verb
In Alaska, despite commonly being household pets, dogs are listed as the state's most concerning animal. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The strikeout dip is both concerning and real, but there also isn’t a smoking gun in the underlying metrics, an alarming velocity dip or a breaking ball that just doesn’t have the same snap. Andy McCullough, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Equally concerning is the fact that the United States has used non-nuclear weapons and wars to kill leaders and change the regimes of nuclear-aspiring nations like Iraq, Libya, and Iran. William Hartung, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The sheer volume in the number of idle vessels – and their global routes – is especially concerning to researchers. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026 Given Stewart’s history of shoulder issues (including surgery last fall), any issue there is concerning. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2026 No one has stood out at the Dolphins most concerning positions — defensive end, wide receiver and cornerback. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 The committee separately released records concerning Fauci’s awards and prize money. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 July 2026 Operational research teams plan to gather diagnostic measurements concerning plasma dynamics, specifically tracking core plasma temperatures, particle densities, and magnetic containment behaviors during operational cycles. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concerning
Preposition
  • Metro Police detectives are continuing to investigate the shooting, and are in contact with the District Attorney’s Office regarding charging decisions.
    Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Was any decision made regarding reducing Partey’s media obligations?
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Peter van Duijvendijk is a flood defense manager at the Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard water corporation, one of 21 such organizations covering the Netherlands that are responsible for issues including flood control.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • That left those covered by Obamacare increasingly facing difficult choices of sucking up extra expenses — while also covering the basics of life, such as rent and food costs — or even forgoing coverage altogether.
    Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But as a result, HOAs have considerable environmental policy power, affecting how entire neighborhoods use water, generate energy, provide wildlife habitat and respond to climate change.
    Daniel Kramer, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • According to the Toronto Sun, Hylands was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow, in October 2021.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hip still bothering Springs Springs lasted just four innings after issuing a season-high five walks, throwing 86 pitches — only 51% of them strikes — and gave up his 28th home run of the season, the most of any pitcher in the league.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Sharks already frequent Southern California beaches, usually without bothering anyone.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Preposition
  • Every thing about Mysaria has also been insufferable this season.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Learn about beading, applique, bagmaking, motion quilting, silk painting and more.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The movie itself disappoints him for its deviations from the Stephen King novel (including this detail may help preempt criticisms over this adaptation), but he’s also distracted by the presence of a strikingly handsome stranger (Homer Gere).
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The hard drive alone contained nearly 500 gigabytes of files and thousands of explicit videos and images of children, including one roughly nine-minute video of a toddler performing oral sex on a grown man, court documents show.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • One person was killed in a fiery three-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on Wednesday in far northwest suburban Genoa Township.
    Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Determining tax on transactions involving digital assets is a notoriously difficult exercise, often much more so than for traditional financial assets like stocks and bonds, according to accountants.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The couple have long warned of the dangers of social media and the evolution of disturbing AI tools, zoning in on the negative impact the platforms can have on mental health.
    Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Each seat is 19 inches wide with 39 inches of pitch with thoughtful features like a hard shell for easy reclining without disturbing surrounding fliers and privacy dividers attached to the headrest.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

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“Concerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concerning. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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