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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
Republicans worry that Musk will make good on his promise to fund primary challengers against each and every one of them who voted to give Trump a win. Philip Elliott, Time, 7 July 2025 Mellinger now worries the department will not be able to meet its five-year goals for key performance indicators, which measure progress on the county’s biggest public health challenges. Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Noun
Yet despite all that, Americans put aside their worries, prejudices and battle scars to come together for the country’s 200th birthday. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025 The House passed its version of the bill in May by a single vote, despite worries about spending cuts and the overall price tag. Kevin Freking, Fortune, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for worry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worry
Verb
  • But this polarization hasn’t caused Pressley to fret much.
    Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 3 July 2025
  • But not to fret; the curly girls have a fix for that.
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • There’s something delicious about sipping lemonade after a dip in the pool, looking down from the balcony at the day-trippers all hot and bothered below.
    Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
  • That really bothers me more than anything else; that bothers me more than even being excluded.
    Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The threat remains, but the public’s fears, along with the movies that explored them, have faded away.
    Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
  • These attempts challenge long-standing norms of academic freedom—that is, the ability of a teacher or researcher in higher education to investigate and discuss subjects without fear of political interference.
    Matt Motta, Scientific American, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Murray stressed that rodent populations can harm humans and wildlife.
    William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
  • The report stresses that this would need to be quickly explored, approved, and set in motion on an expedited basis.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • The suit alleges that several internal memos concerning drugs and other contraband have gone unheeded for years.
    Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
  • The warning was released on Monday at 4:41 p.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Monday at 4:47 p.m.
    Kansas City Star Bot Updated July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • This can cause unnecessary anxiety and concern for the dog.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • This is the current situation: Certainly, a trend of appreciating precious metals is at work, but there is also the theme of ‘strategic and critical metals’ anxiety pushing platinum.
    Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Vodka just keeps things boozy without fussing too much with the flavor.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • Sleep regressions refer to periods when a baby who previously slept well suddenly begins waking frequently, fussing more, or resisting bedtime.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • However, infrared videography can help record what’s going on on the beach without disturbing the turtles or crabs.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
  • The first beaver to be released in this project was trapped at Arlington Wildlife Area along the Gila River after causing land management issues, like clogging pipes and disturbing irrigation infrastructure.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worry. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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