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worry

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noun

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
Yet few are willing to speak publicly, worried about reprisals. Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025 In a Beetle, there is a lot to love, and little to worry about. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
Dry spell raises drought worries The above-normal temperatures are expected to continue into next week, reaching the low 90s on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025 Plus-size segment remains underserved by apparel market Mallorie Dunn, a professor of fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and owner of SmartGlamour, a clothing line that offers the smallest and largest sizes, worries about the apparel retail market rushing to conclusions. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worry
Verb
  • Portraying the ghost of Hamlet’s father at the play’s debut, his face and body covered in chalky white paint, his Shakespeare steps through the looking glass and becomes his own tragic player, strutting and fretting his hour upon the stage.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But don't fret — the fiberglass bovines were merely on a temporary hiatus from their essential post outside the custard shop, and nine of the 20 have since made their return, fresher than ever.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The women were too busy cooking, crafting, and caring for the family to bother with the stone tools used by men in hunting and building.
    Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?
    Time, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Mothers told Fletcher of sending their children to live elsewhere for fear they will be raped in the displacement camps, a constant worry.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The stock is still benefiting from having been dismissed and cheapened by prior fears of its search franchise being disrupted.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Polite dogs are allowed, but your pup might get stressed in the noisy, crowded park.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Experts stress that normalizing GSM as a medical condition rather than a decline is key to encouraging care.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While the San Francisco 49ers started off their 2025 NFL schedule with a 17-13 road win over the Seattle Seahawks, there are definite reasons for their fans to be concerned.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As far as pricing is concerned, while multiple reports suggested that Apple may hike prices this year to offset tariff pressure, a JPMorgan report indicates the opposite.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Add in the possibility of more extensive – and costly – work such as bridges, crowns, extractions or implants, and the anxiety can grow even stronger.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The enthusiasm around personal curriculums and independent learning might reflect modern-day anxieties.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Others might tell you that hosting an awards show is a thankless gig, but Bargatze doesn’t seem fussed.
    Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
  • This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
    Angelina Liu, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There’s a certain freedom not having social media available from your app launcher, knowing you won’t get disturbed on this device, but are still able to sit back with a good book, some light jazz, and… not much else.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Unfollow accounts that regularly share disturbing images.
    Annie Margaret, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worry. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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