Synonyms of worry

worry 1 of 2

verb

ˈwər-ē 

1

as in to fret

to experience concern or anxiety

they worried for days about whether the loan would be approved

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fret
• fear
• stress
• fuss
• sweat
• trouble
• bother
• stew
• care a hang
• agonize
• give a hang
• long
• sweat blood
• despair
• pine
• yearn
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• take
• tolerate
• endure
• bear
• abide
• sustain
• stomach
• stick out

2

as in to bother

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

those strange noises outside the house worry me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• concern
• disturb
• alarm
• distract
• anger
• upset
• distress
• agitate
• unsettle
• discomfort
• plague
• annoy
• haunt
• dismay
• disquiet
• confuse
• fuss
• irritate
• derail
• discompose
• ail
• exercise
• perturb
• undo
• flurry
• freak (out)
• unhinge
• embarrass
• rattle
• bug
• fret
• weird out
• distemper
• exasperate
• aggravate
• irk
• frazzle
• discourage
• hagride
• harass
• vex
• alarum
• chafe
• pester
• rile
• put off
• fluster
• harry
• put out
• pique
• grate
• get
• bedevil
• peeve
• faze
• gall
• shake up
• discomfit
• disconcert
• confound
• daunt
• mortify
• nettle
• chivvy
• dishearten
• unnerve
• abash
• discountenance
• jar
• chivy
• demoralize
• dispirit
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• calm
• soothe
• quiet
• alleviate
• compose
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• tranquillize
• placate
• appease
• mollify
• pacify
• conciliate
• propitiate

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

• fear
• concern
• anxiety
• unease
• concernment
• uncertainty
• uneasiness
• nervousness
• apprehension
• fearfulness
• doubt
• agitation
• tension
• panic
• care
• disquiet
• disquietude
• discomfort
• stress
• apprehensiveness
• dread
• anxiousness
• sweat
• perturbation
• solicitude
• desperation
• anguish
• agita
• dismay
• nervosity
• upset
• distress
• disturbance
• tremor
• desperateness
• strain
• jitters
• consternation
• alarm
• angst
• suspense
• torment
• qualm
• distraction
• misgiving
• hand-wringing
• vexation
• presentiment
• jumpiness
• compunction
• discomposure
• franticness
• scruple
• edginess
• alarum
• cold feet
• foreboding
• incertitude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unconcern
• ease
• content
• peace
• contentment
• calm
• quiet
• tranquillity
• relief
• calmness
• serenity
• easiness
• tranquility
• quietude
• comfort
• consolation
• peacefulness
• placidity
• solace
• placidness
• tranquilness
• sereneness

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

Examples of worry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Deloitte’s Asia-Pacific edition of the survey last year found 80% of the region’s CFOs worried most about a global economic slowdown. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024

That means less time worrying about making a flight and more time preparing for a perfect vacation or an important business meeting. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2024

Noun

So there’s a worry there about pressure or coercion. —Keren Landman, Vox, 8 Oct. 2024

Like a similar fusillade from Tehran in April, the main effect of the barrage was to stoke worries that Israel’s retaliation would ignite a regional war that drags in the United States, and opens whole new realms of uncertainty. —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 7 Oct. 2024