concern 1 of 2

concern

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verb

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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

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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

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.
Recent Examples of concern
Noun
Ebenezer alleges that after voicing his concerns, his role was diminished, resulting in a significant pay cut. Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025 If a landlord or property owner has a reasonable suspicion of a safety concern, such as a health emergency or damage to a residential property, they are allowed to enter without notice. Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
This candid approach vividly unspools the conflict at its center, concerning a dispute between neighbors in 2023 that ended in murder. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025 Parente said he was concerned moving the vehicle so far away could leave it open to being altered, and his concern seemed justified in another hearing four days later. Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for concern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concern
Noun
  • To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
  • During those visits, Ray and Alex took an interest in dance — getting up onstage with the park’s performers and talking with them after the shows.
    Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Executives and industry watchers say the sector has fared better than expected, but there are now growing worries around the health of consumers and suppliers, CNBC’s Michael Wayland reports.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
  • As the days without their parents pass, their worries grow.
    Maria Santana, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Dale Ellis covers the federal courthouse beat for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, reporting on criminal and civil matters that impact Arkansans.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Swapping from premium to premium, particularly to cover off the big captaincy favourites, can lead to some huge points swings, which far outweigh any four-point transfer cost.
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Here's what to know about both recalls, including how many vehicles are affected and what impacted owners should do.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Not the kind of thrift store that’s actually thrifty, but the kind of thrift store that doesn’t have any price tags because the people who can afford to shop there don’t need to bother themselves with price tags.
    Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Being a double Viking with Swedish and Norman blood on each side of my family, the cold never bothered me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Ingraham was additionally designated as the future chair of the company's compensation committee, which could give her a key role in determining the compensation of officers and directors.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Moog’s lightweight turret, with its focus on mobility, commonality, and rapid adaptability, positions the company as a key contributor to that evolving vision for next-generation air defense.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Last week, the VIX—Wall Street’s fear gauge—spiked to its highest level since April before easing, amid new trade policy uncertainties.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Amazon Web Services suffers widespread outage MAJOR HEADLINES BAYOU MYSTERY – Democrat mayor's 'gaslighting' amid serial killer fears called out by grieving family.
    , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That includes Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro headset, which has struggled to attract developers and resonate with buyers, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Admirers can switch between nine lighting modes, including warm white and multicolor hues, as well as flickering and flashing light shows.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Concern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concern. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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