WORRY Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'worry' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of worry are annoy , harass , harry , pester , plague , and tease . While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. // pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Q: When can 'annoy' be used instead of 'worry'?

The words annoy and worry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks. // you're doing that just to annoy me

Q: When is 'harass' a more appropriate choice than 'worry'?

The meanings of harass and worry largely overlap; however, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power. // harassed on all sides by creditors

Q: When would 'harry' be a good substitute for 'worry'?

While the synonyms harry and worry are close in meaning, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment. // the strikers had been harried by thugs

Q: When could 'pester' be used to replace 'worry'?

The words pester and worry can be used in similar contexts, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks. // constantly pestered with trivial complaints

Q: In what contexts can 'plague' take the place of 'worry'?

Although the words plague and worry have much in common, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction. // plagued all her life by poverty

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

In some situations, the words tease and worry are roughly equivalent. However, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath. // children teased the dog

worry 1 of 2

verb

ˈwər-ē

Definition of worry

as in to fret

to experience concern or anxiety they worried for days about whether the loan would be approved

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

worry

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb worry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of worry are annoy, harass, harry, pester, plague, and tease. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

When can annoy be used instead of worry?

The words annoy and worry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When is harass a more appropriate choice than worry?

The meanings of harass and worry largely overlap; however, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When would harry be a good substitute for worry?

While the synonyms harry and worry are close in meaning, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When could pester be used to replace worry?

The words pester and worry can be used in similar contexts, but pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

In what contexts can plague take the place of worry?

Although the words plague and worry have much in common, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is it sensible to use tease instead of worry?

In some situations, the words tease and worry are roughly equivalent. However, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

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 worry

Verb

The proximity to his father was what worried Lorena Zschaber, a 40-year-old photographer, who watched the results roll in at an LGBTQ+-friendly bar in downtown Rio de Janeiro. — Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Administrators may understandably worry that more individualized coaching requires additional time, training and money. — Irma Davarashvili, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

Government employment fell by 17,000, while temporary help services saw a decline of 11,000, and information services lost 10,000 amid worries over the impact artificial intelligence may have on the jobs picture. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 There are, of course, many reasons for the selloff, including oil prices, inflation worries, Fed policy expectations and heavy corporate debt issuance. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worry

Verb

Yields across much of the G7 have surged in recent months as investors fret over stubbornly high inflation and unrelenting borrowing, with economists voicing particular worry over a potential European debt crisis.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Ratings agencies and investors are fretting about leverage as the combined company enters a shifting media landscape with $80 billion in debt after one of the biggest leveraged buyouts in corporate history.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of fret

Noun

Residents say Ethiopian federal forces retook Mekelle’s airport from Tigrayan fighters, but communications blackouts and fear of reprisals have left unclear who controls Tigray’s capital city.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
The book offers creative ways to manage fear and negativity — like pretend-flushing your mistakes down the toilet — before, during and after a high-stakes task.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Verb

The expert stressed that the team's field work was complete but that laboratory analysis was still underway before broader conclusions could be drawn.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Kretzschmar’s attorney, Jeremy Saland, stressed to NBC News on Thursday that his client was not involved in any criminal conduct alleged in the case.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of stress

Verb

In turn, an interpretation may report that no concerning variant was found without making clear that the relevant gene was not fully examined.

— Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Emirati prosecutors opened an investigation after a co-pilot stabbed his captain mid-flight, asserting jurisdiction over a crime that also concerns Saudi Arabia and Israel.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

And three, sometimes four, of those many waking hours are spent in the car — bouncing from home to school to her second or third job and home again — with music at full blast to drown out the babble of anxiety, most of it financial.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
This can help decrease anxiety and increase confidence by removing the pressure of one ideal performance and shifting focus to the present moment.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Verb

Perhaps only a pedant—or a hypocrite—would fuss about that kind of imprecision.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
If the offensive line’s healthy again, RB Saquon Barkley will ramble again, broadening QB Jalen Hurts’ margin for error and being fussed at by the coaching staff.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of fuss

Verb

Baldwin alleged that decision was just one part of a pattern of disturbing prosecutorial abuses, including presenting false information to the grand jury, failing to disclose two firearms reports, and filing an unlawful gun enhancement.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
But the death of Khamenei eliminated the regime’s paramount figure, disturbing the existing balance, and the war is systematically privileging the parts of the state responsible for survival over everything else.

— Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturb

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worrisome

worry

worrying

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“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worry. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of worry

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noun

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