: causing concern or worry : creating reason for concern : troubling
found the latest reports very concerning
"It's extremely concerning that drivers still choose to give their attention to things other than the road when they're behind the wheel," said [Texas Department of Transportation] Executive Director James Bass.—
The Nueces County Record Star
The Nueces County Record Star… carbapenems should not be administered to patients with positive penicillin skin test results or a concerning history of a type I allergic response to penicillin.—Alan R. Salkind et al.
Alan R. Salkind et al.
concerningly
adverb
Of course, South Carolina roads are also concerningly dangerous for sober drivers. In 2015, the state ranked 7th for traffic deaths overall …
—The Post & Courier [Charleston, South Carolina]
The Post & Courier [Charleston, South Carolina]
"The waivers have driven destruction in Native American burial sites. They have killed thousands of species and fragmented habitat. Most concerningly, there is zero accountability or consequence for these outcomes."
—Gloria Smith
Gloria Smith
Examples of concerning in a Sentence
Preposition
we had a meeting with the principal today concerning the new policy on student-run organizations
Recent Examples on the Web
Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 May 2025
More concerning, legendary Conan guest, the late Norm MacDonald, only appears in a brief video – and there’s no showcase for his iconic appearance alongside Courtney Thorne Smith.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 4 May 2025
Looking at a longer timeframe reveals an even more concerning picture: since early 2022, Amazon's stock has gained only about 9% over three years.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
But in recent months, there has been a concerning trend: The churn that’s needed for a healthy labor market has slowed significantly.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for concerning
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.
Adjective
The Insurrection Act can be more concerning than the Alien Enemies Act, which Trump has invoked to detain and deport Venezuelan immigrants, according to Maurer, who is now a professor at the Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 May 2025
More concerning, legendary Conan guest, the late Norm MacDonald, only appears in a brief video – and there’s no showcase for his iconic appearance alongside Courtney Thorne Smith.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 4 May 2025
Looking at a longer timeframe reveals an even more concerning picture: since early 2022, Amazon's stock has gained only about 9% over three years.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
But in recent months, there has been a concerning trend: The churn that’s needed for a healthy labor market has slowed significantly.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for concerning
Cite this Entry
“Concerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concerning. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share