worried 1 of 2

Definition of worriednext

worried

2 of 2

verb

past tense of worry

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 worried
Adjective
One group the Oscar nominee is not worried about is film critics. Zack Sharf, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026 Not that Ben is worried right now. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
While there is currently no pending legislation to modify the tax break, the growing federal deficit has some employer groups worried the policy will change. Julie Appleby, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 Other local residents worried the building would be too large and out-of-scale with the surrounding area, and environmental advocates said the plan doesn’t take enough steps to protect migratory birds. Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worried
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worried
Adjective
  • Fedor Zugic scored nine points on a trio of first-half 3-pointers to lead Creighton (14-14, 8-9), unable to build off a big upset Wednesday at UConn.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Residents in Queens are getting upset over the explanation from the city for a massive puddle that just won't go away.
    Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Under the current Gateway plan, those repairs don’t happen until 2040, which is cuckoo, especially if imminent failure is feared.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Newsom writes that his mother feared politics would trap him in a false persona masking deeper insecurities from dyslexia and his paradoxical upbringing.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • An Indian colleague was alarmed by the praise for colonialism.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The Palantir executive was alarmed by the implication of Anthropic’s inquiry that the company might resist the use of its technology in a US military operation, and reported the conversation back to the Pentagon, a senior Defense Department official said.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Given the snowy conditions and fatigue levels, these are nervous moments for the athletes, with mere seconds separating winning from losing.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Hollywood version The team may have been extra nervous given that the previous high-profile adaptation of The House of the Spirits was a 1993 movie in English starring Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Ahead of the splashy announcement, her government staffers privately fretted over its political nature potentially opening the city up to liability, according to Banuelos.
    Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Software stocks have plunged recently as investors have fretted that new artificial intelligence, large-language models could disrupt existing technologies.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Lee published a list of questions for Sarandos on social media Friday morning, which primarily concerned the anticompetitive implications of a WBD-Netflix merger.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Soaring levels of debt issuance among tech companies have Wall Street on edge, but staff economists at the Federal Reserve aren’t that concerned yet.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Some anxious Republicans have urged him to show more public displays of empathy.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
  • And things got as anxious as a guy on a first date with the prettiest girl in school.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • When snowpack runs low, the effects ripple months later — shrinking reservoirs, stressed supplies, and tougher water decisions as temperatures rise.
    James Ward, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The 1% Club has leant heavily on comedian hosts around the world, with the likes of Mack, McHale and Jefferies bringing wit and banter to proceedings, although Connock stressed that new territories can think beyond comics when considering hosts.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worried.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worried. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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