concern 1 of 2

noun

Definition of concernnext
1
as in interest
a commercial or industrial activity or organization several banking concerns in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in worry
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble the recent crime wave has caused a great deal of concern in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

concern

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈsərn How to pronounce concern (audio)
1
as in to cover
to have (something) as a subject matter the book concerns the challenges faced by children growing up in single-parent households

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to affect
to be the business or affair of the problems of air and water pollution that concern all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to worry
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy we were greatly concerned by reports that yet another previously unknown virus is now posing a threat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word concern distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of concern are anxiety, care, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When could anxiety be used to replace concern?

In some situations, the words anxiety and concern are roughly equivalent. However, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

When is care a more appropriate choice than concern?

The words care and concern are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can solicitude be used instead of concern?

The synonyms solicitude and concern are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When is it sensible to use worry instead of concern?

While the synonyms worry and concern are close in meaning, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

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 concern
Noun
Several supporters of Lindsay Clancy waiting in line to enter court are discussing the jury’s impasse and expressing concern about a possible mistrial. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 Buying power Housing costs are no longer American consumers’ main concern, says a new survey from marketing company Adtaxi. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
Cao’s deeper subject here concerns the wagers people make on their futures and, by extension, the ways risk is deferred and abstracted in our gamified, appified, casino-like present. — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 The professional worker may be concerned about the broader threat of AI to employment. — Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for concern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concern
  1. interest
  2. worry
  3. cover
  4. affect
  5. bother
  6. company
  7. fear
  8. include
Noun
  • Chinese consumer brands that went public over the past year or so initially drew strong investor interest until a string of artificial-intelligence companies made their debuts, stealing their thunder and minting new billionaires.
    — Dave Sebastian, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The question is whether this interest will be reflected in the budget request for fiscal year 2028, which is now in the initial stages of preparation.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of interest
Noun
  • Bi is at work on a black gown with a veil, which Christian worries is taking up too much time.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, worries over inflation, higher rates and high debt remain in focus, as benchmark borrowing costs around the world extend their multi-decade highs.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of worry
Verb
  • Also in the courtroom was Davis’ son, who covered his face with one hand.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Active managers can also adjust strike prices, expiration dates and the proportion of each holding covered by options as market conditions shift.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of cover
Verb
  • The instruments can move with greater flexibility than the human hand, while the system filters out natural hand tremors that could affect delicate movements.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The gesture continues a pattern for Swift, who has a long history of quietly funding GoFundMe campaigns for fans and strangers facing medical emergencies, including past donations to families affected by natural disasters and accidents.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • Say what’s bothering you before resentment takes over the conversation.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Rafter, bothered by a right shoulder injury, retires after Cedric Pioline breaks his serve in the opening game of the fifth set.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • Elroy Air said the latest flights will help inform the company’s efforts to deploy autonomous heavy-cargo aircraft safely and at scale.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • While more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country have ended their contracts with Flock Safety in recent weeks over privacy concerns, the company and the state of Georgia are deeply tied to one another.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of company
Noun
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement is spurring fears of a fresh wave of Canadian travelers steering clear of the US.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Verb
  • Chinese manufacturers have expanded from areas including etching and deposition into ion implantation, inspection and metrology, according to Goldman.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, the career money list only includes official prize money.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of include

Browse Nearby Words

conceptual
concern
concerned
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Cite this Entry

“Concern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concern. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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