worrisome

adjective

wor·​ri·​some ˈwər-ē-səm 

ˈwə-rē-

1

: causing distress or worry

worrisome news

2

: inclined to worry or fret

investors feeling worrisome

worrisomely adverb

worrisomeness noun

Synonyms of worrisome

• disturbing
• unsettling
• troubling
• frightening

Examples of worrisome in a Sentence

There is the worrisome possibility of hurricane damage on the coast.

the patient's erratic behavior has become increasingly worrisome

Recent Examples on the Web

As technologies get smarter and efforts to monitor women accelerate, data breaches from our everyday technologies, like smart devices, become increasingly worrisome. — Sparkle Rainey Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026

Legal Problems Few things are more worrisome to small business owners than serious legal exposure. — Nellie Akalp, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Wells Fargo earlier this month lowered its rating on Netflix to underweight , noting trends on that front are worrisome. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

International experts have denounced President Faustin-Archange Touadera’s repression of the opposition and push to eliminate term limits as worrisome turns toward autocracy. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

worrisome

adjective

wor·​ri·​some ˈwər-ē-səm 

ˈwə-rē-

1

: causing worry

worrisome news

2

: given to worrying

worrisome parents