Synonyms of concern

concern 1 of 2

noun

1

as in interest

a commercial or industrial activity or organization

several banking concerns in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interest
• company
• firm
• house
• business
• enterprise
• corporation
• establishment
• association
• agency
• outfit
• trust
• conglomerate
• multinational
• chain
• dealer
• outlet
• cartel
• syndicate
• combine
• microenterprise

2

as in worry

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble

the recent crime wave has caused a great deal of concern in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worry
• fear
• anxiety
• unease
• concernment
• uneasiness
• uncertainty
• apprehension
• nervousness
• disquiet
• fearfulness
• agitation
• solicitude
• disquietude
• care
• perturbation
• apprehensiveness
• discomfort
• tension
• doubt
• anxiousness
• panic
• stress
• desperation
• sweat
• anguish
• dread
• dismay
• agita
• distress
• nervosity
• disturbance
• consternation
• desperateness
• tremor
• upset
• alarm
• strain
• angst
• jitters
• qualm
• misgiving
• suspense
• distraction
• torment
• vexation
• hand-wringing
• discomposure
• jumpiness
• presentiment
• compunction
• edginess
• franticness
• scruple
• foreboding
• cold feet
• incertitude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unconcern
• ease
• content
• peace
• contentment
• calm
• quiet
• calmness
• relief
• tranquility
• serenity
• easiness
• quietude
• peacefulness
• comfort
• placidity
• consolation
• solace
• placidness
• sereneness
• tranquilness

concern

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈsərn 

1

as in to cover

to have (something) as a subject matter

the book concerns the challenges faced by children growing up in single-parent households

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cover
• include
• present
• pertain (to)
• treat (of)
• specify
• deal (with)
• mention
• contain
• encompass
• offer
• notice
• bear (on or upon)
• have to do with
• relate (to)
• instance
• note
• refer (to)
• touch (upon)
• cite
• name
• quote
• appertain (to)
• allude (to)
• glance (upon)
• incorporate
• entail
• advert (to)
• embrace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exclude
• omit
• forget
• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• neglect
• overlook
• pass over
• reject
• brush (aside or off)
• slur (over)
• overpass
• shrug off

2

as in to affect

to be the business or affair of

the problems of air and water pollution that concern all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affect
• involve
• touch
• apply (to)
• relate (to)
• bear (on)
• pertain (to)
• refer (to)
• implicate
• appertain (to)
• embroil
• ensnare
• entangle

3

as in to worry

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

we were greatly concerned by reports that yet another previously unknown virus is now posing a threat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worry
• bother
• alarm
• disturb
• distract
• anger
• distress
• upset
• discomfort
• dismay
• plague
• unsettle
• agitate
• disquiet
• haunt
• annoy
• confuse
• ail
• irritate
• exercise
• derail
• fuss
• discompose
• perturb
• flurry
• freak (out)
• unhinge
• bug
• embarrass
• undo
• weird out
• distemper
• rattle
• aggravate
• exasperate
• irk
• hagride
• discourage
• vex
• harass
• frazzle
• pique
• fret
• put off
• peeve
• chafe
• rile
• grate
• put out
• harry
• pester
• bedevil
• discomfit
• fluster
• disconcert
• gall
• shake up
• nettle
• confound
• faze
• mortify
• get
• daunt
• discountenance
• unnerve
• abash
• jar
• dishearten
• chivy
• demoralize
• dispirit
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• quiet
• settle
• soothe
• alleviate
• compose
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• placate
• appease
• mollify
• pacify
• conciliate
• propitiate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word concern distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of concern are anxiety, care, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When could anxiety be used to replace concern?

In some situations, the words anxiety and concern are roughly equivalent. However, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

When is care a more appropriate choice than concern?

The words care and concern are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can solicitude be used instead of concern?

The synonyms solicitude and concern are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When is it sensible to use worry instead of concern?

While the synonyms worry and concern are close in meaning, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of concern

Noun

Clever and snappy, fresh and silly, a winning combination of classic Looney Tunes gags and contemporary concerns (the press notes mention many influences including, no joke, The Insider). — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Gayer’s primary concern now is figuring out how to grow the company in an efficient and sustainable way. — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

After her annual mammogram showed abnormalities, Oteri hadn’t initially been concerned. — Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Carmen Balber, executive director for the advocacy organization Consumer Watchdog, said the Senate’s plan still has elements that concern her. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026