solicitude

noun

so·​lic·​i·​tude sə-ˈli-sə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

a

: the state of being concerned and anxious

b

: attentive care and protectiveness

also : an attitude of earnest concern or attention

expressed solicitude for his health

2

: a cause of care or concern

—usually used in plural

Synonyms

• concern
• fear
• anxiety
• worry
• concernment
• unease

Choose the Right Synonym for solicitude

care, concern, solicitude, anxiety, worry mean a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this.

care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

Examples of solicitude in a Sentence

He expressed solicitude for my health.

a growing solicitude over the possible results of the criminal investigation

Recent Examples on the Web

At first idly, then with what appears to be solicitude, and finally with the glee of a cat cornering a mouse before killing it, Gustav pokes into Adi’s professional failures, connecting them to Tekla’s galling success. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 May 2025

And not just because the Supreme Court has shown great solicitude for Trump in recent years. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Realistically, however, Mexico faces a tough fight in a Supreme Court that’s shown a great deal of solicitude for the gun industry — even in cases that don’t involve a federal statute that protects gun companies from liability. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

The evocation of the boy’s impure actions, as well as the undertow of sexuality in both his parish priest’s solicitude and his father’s violence, caught the attention of the censors, who typically busied themselves outlawing pulp erotica. —Sam Sacks, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for solicitude

• beatitude
• decrepitude
• disquietude
• exactitude
• ineptitude
• infinitude
• ingratitude
• midlatitude
• similitude
• accrued
• allude
• collude

Kids Definition

solicitude

noun

so·​lic·​i·​tude sə-ˈlis-ə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: the state of being solicitous : anxiety

2

: too much care or attention