worry

verb

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wor·ry | \ ˈwər-ē

, ˈwə-rē \

worried; worrying

Definition of worry

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 dialectal British : choke, strangle

2a : 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

3a : 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 dialectal 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

worry

noun

plural worries

Definition of worry (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated : anxiety

b : an instance or occurrence of such distress or agitation

2 : a cause of worry : trouble, difficulty

Other Words from worry Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing worry Learn More About worry

Choose the Right Synonym for worry

Verb

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

Noun

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 worry in a Sentence

Verb We didn't want you to worry. Don't worry. You'll be fine. Don't make your parents worry. When they didn't call after two hours, we began to worry. They were fine. We needn't have worried. His poor health worries me. It doesn't seem to worry him that rain is in the forecast. We didn't tell you about the accident because we didn't want to worry you. Noun She finally ended months of worry over her credit card debt when she finished paying off her bill. His high blood pressure is cause for worry. Our greatest worry is that she'll get lost. His only worry right now is getting to the airport on time. His mother's health is a constant worry. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Also while there are some unusual items in the blend, don’t worry, the strong chocolate flavor dominates. — Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2022 And don't worry, your work bag doesn't have to be plain black or boring. — Laura Hanrahan, Woman's Day, 5 May 2022 Don't worry, no blowtorch is needed for these custards because this TikTok recipe found a home kitchen-friendly alternative. — Janae Mckenzie, Glamour, 5 May 2022 Drought conditions, though, stunted reproduction last year, and scientists worry the same might happen this year. — Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2022 Many scientists worry that climate change will worsen the spread of some mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and yellow fever. — Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, 20 Apr. 2022 Scientists worry about conflicts of interest with the gatekeeper to mining permits. — Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2022 Still, other scientists worry that the nation isn’t doing enough to prevent another possible surge. — Eduardo Medina, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Apr. 2022 With coronavirus cases rising in parts of Europe and Asia, scientists worry that an extra-contagious version of the omicron variant may soon push cases up in the United States, too. — Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun While some white-knuckle over the turbulence made by billionaire Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, one University of Central Florida student is flying high without any worry. — Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2022 All that to say, palazzo pants offer all the benefits of a maxi skirt without the worry of wardrobe malfunctions or chafing (ouch). — Eva Thomas, PEOPLE.com, 18 Apr. 2022 Russian commanders have rotated through Syria for years, where radios and cellphones could be used without worry of interference or tracking, noted Bendett, of the Center for Naval Analyses. — Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2022 My daydreams consist of Playing music all around the world without the worry of COVID. — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 9 Mar. 2022 For 30 years now, Americans have been able to fight the dangerous but not existential threat from terrorism without much worry about the shape of the world our children will live in. — Elliott Abrams, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022 Weeks ago, the Beijing Olympics appeared to provide a perfect opportunity for China to display its success against COVID, hosting an international event with thousands of domestic fans that could attend without worry of getting infected. — Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2022 The electronics have been waterproofed, too, so the driver can blast through shallow puddles and wet pavement without worry. — Matt Jancer, Wired, 17 Nov. 2021 Corded stick vacuums offer a convenient design without the worry of battery life. — Erin Johnson, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.