1
as in to fret
to experience concern or anxiety
they worried for days about whether the loan would be approved
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to bother
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
those strange noises outside the house worry me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
she can only concentrate on something when she is free of worry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worry
Ana Ceballos
follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Economists have long worried that, when government pours more money into higher education (especially via student aid), colleges capture part of that money by raising prices, a dynamic often called the Bennett Hypothesis, after former Education Secretary William Bennett.
—David Williams, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
These worries stem from the law's vague language, professors said, and uncertainty over how universities will implement these new policies.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worry
Verb
In his floor speech, Kiley worried that the tax, if approved, could cause the state’s economy to collapse.
—Ana Ceballos
follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Economists have long worried that, when government pours more money into higher education (especially via student aid), colleges capture part of that money by raising prices, a dynamic often called the Bennett Hypothesis, after former Education Secretary William Bennett.
—David Williams, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
The changes noted that the risks to inflation and the labor market had come more closely into balance, softening prior worries over the employment picture.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2026
These worries stem from the law's vague language, professors said, and uncertainty over how universities will implement these new policies.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worry
Verb
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With around $40 million stateside, and another $40 million internationally, the film appears poised to break Hollywood's string of box office flops as the industry continues to fret over the increasingly dire economics of theatrical releases.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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The man himself might have argued forcefully that the one didn’t prove the other, that many Muslims in his hometown never bothered to circumcise their children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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But only part of that really bothered the Florida Department of Health about Sidney Moritz, once known as Sandy Montano.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That puts the fear of God into him.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The Showtime Lakers faced those fears and overcame them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hurricanes coach Tricia Cullop stressed how important this matchup was because Cal sat in 10th place in the ACC standings, two spots above Miami and on the edge of the NCAA Tournament bubble.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
22 Feb. 2026
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The judge again stressed that the relevant considerations in antitrust analysis aren’t supposed social goods, but instead factors that shed light on economic competition.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even before revelations about the emails, there were tensions between Wasserman and some Los Angeles politicians concerned that financial shortfalls in staging the $7-billion Summer Games will need to be covered by local taxpayers.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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Turns out, his son was concerned for the safety of his classmates from Guatemala and Cambodia.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tobacco parallels The Los Angeles trial centers on allegations made by a 20-year-old woman, Kaley, and her mother that four social media giants intentionally designed addictive platforms that hooked her as a child and led to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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The lurch from confidence to anxiety has been a key reason Villa have not held their nerve in some supposedly easier fixtures.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Asparagus fern is very tolerant of indoor living, doesn't fuss too much about watering schedules, and can make do with less-than-ideal lighting conditions.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
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Your son is fussing in his car seat.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 12 villas come with a living room, a separate bedroom, and kitchen stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks from the mini bar, a pre-dinner amuse bouche from the chef each evening, and a patio with a separate entrance for staffers to set up morning breakfast without disturbing you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Set in the 1990s, the film centers on a young FBI agent (Maika Monroe) who investigates a series of disturbing murders connected by highly specific commonalities.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worry. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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