worrying

adjective

wor·​ry·​ing ˈwər-ē-iŋ How to pronounce worrying (audio)
ˈwə-rē-
: causing worry : creating reason for worry : troubling
a worrying trend/development
a worrying question
The presence of the knife on the stage of the murder was a worrying circumstance for Wilson.Mark Twain
worryingly adverb
When the secretary returned, she handed us an envelope that looked worryingly official … Caroline Alexander
… money held by households has risen at a worryingly slow rate over the past year … The Economist

Examples of worrying in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The mom said that the situation was made all the more worrying given that her son is nonverbal. Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025 Fiery press conferences, frustration over a lack of signings, and a glum touchline demeanour paint a worrying picture. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025 But beta blockers only address the physical response to anxiety — not the ruminating or worrying. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025 Guy is their newest inductee, a 20something with an iffy American accent (Denton is Australian), a worrying clonazepam dependency, a fancy NYU law degree and — of most interest to the Talamasca — a rare ability to read minds. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worrying

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of worrying was in 1817

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worrying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worrying. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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