SOLICITUDE Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'solicitude' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of solicitude are anxiety , care , concern , and worry . While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. // acted with typical maternal solicitude

Q: When could 'anxiety' be used to replace 'solicitude'?

Although the words anxiety and solicitude have much in common, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. // plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Q: In what contexts can 'care' take the place of 'solicitude'?

The words care and solicitude can be used in similar contexts, but care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. // a face worn by years of care

Q: When can 'concern' be used instead of 'solicitude'?

The words concern and solicitude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. // crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

Q: When is it sensible to use 'worry' instead of 'solicitude'?

The meanings of worry and solicitude largely overlap; however, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. // financial worries

solicitude

noun

sə-ˈli-sə-ˌtüd

Definition of solicitude

as in concern

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble a growing solicitude over the possible results of the criminal investigation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in carefulness

attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility she shows much more solicitude toward her aging parents than any of her siblings do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solicitude distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of solicitude are anxiety, care, concern, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When could anxiety be used to replace solicitude?

Although the words anxiety and solicitude have much in common, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

In what contexts can care take the place of solicitude?

The words care and solicitude can be used in similar contexts, but care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can concern be used instead of solicitude?

The words concern and solicitude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When is it sensible to use worry instead of solicitude?

The meanings of worry and solicitude largely overlap; however, 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 solicitude At first idly, then with what appears to be solicitude, and finally with the glee of a cat cornering a mouse before killing it, Gustav pokes into Adi’s professional failures, connecting them to Tekla’s galling success. — Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 May 2025 The evocation of the boy’s impure actions, as well as the undertow of sexuality in both his parish priest’s solicitude and his father’s violence, caught the attention of the censors, who typically busied themselves outlawing pulp erotica. — Sam Sacks, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event. — Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 30 May 2024 Realistically, however, Mexico faces a tough fight in a Supreme Court that’s shown a great deal of solicitude for the gun industry — even in cases that don’t involve a federal statute that protects gun companies from liability. — Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See All Example Sentences for solicitude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solicitude

Noun

Other areas of concern are the library system's self-check-out kiosks, instances in which minor teenagers handle materials while working or volunteering at a branch, and platforms for loaning electronic materials, Adams said.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of concern

Noun

The frenzy followed Beijing’s decision in the mid-1980s to ban imports of almost all blood products – except human albumin – amid growing fears over the global HIV/AIDS crisis.

— CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Now, as my anxiety climbed, the smell was becoming inseparable from the fear.

— Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Her flop of a debate performance left her sounding like someone with no vision or kindness — career suicide for someone who has made her reputation on both traits.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of kindness

Noun

Solar attracted the most investment among renewable energy subsectors during the first six months of the year as countries rush to build capacity as worries grow that global wars will continue squeezing energy supplies.

— Eugenia Perozo, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Research shows, however, that the public is always a little bit concerned about corruption, and that these worries often do not correspond with particular actions by politicians.

— Robert Boatright, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

But there’s more than gags here; the episode also delves into the gang’s unease with their changing lives, as well as the reservations everyone but Ted seems to have about his engagement to Stella (Sarah Chalke).

— Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
But Susser said the unease might also reflect that society hasn’t quite established clear norms around AI use.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of unease

Browse Nearby Words

solicits

solicitude

solid

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“Solicitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solicitude. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of solicitude

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