WORRIED Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

worried 1 of 2

adjective

ˈwər-ēd

Definition of worried

as in upset

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty the soldier's father had a worried expression as he listened to the news

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

worried

2 of 2

verb

past tense of worry

as in feared

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

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as in alarmed

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy those strange noises outside the house worry me

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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 worried

Adjective

What is mold in coffee and why are people worried about mycotoxins? — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 Amid wars, inflation, emerging risks from artificial intelligence and threats to democracy, Americans have a lot to be worried about these days. — Geoffrey Henderson, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

Verb

Critics also worried that an unplanned surge in housing could strain schools, roads and other infrastructure. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 There are many upset and worried parents in Romulus after police were called to the school once again on Monday morning. — Heath Kalb, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worried

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worried

Adjective

The dispute could present a problem for Raman, who rode DSA support to an upset City Council victory in 2020 but has since frustrated some DSA members with her positions on policing, housing development, and Israel.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
With the upset win over the Ravens, Cleveland moves to 4-2 and into a tie with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of upset

Verb

In the immediate aftermath of Jose’s arrest, his family feared he would be quickly deported.

— Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
On Thursday alone, the maker of Kleenex and Huggies reported better-than-feared preliminary results for its third quarter, and Chinese authorities pushed back on social-media claims that have hurt diaper sales in the country.

— Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of feared

Verb

The symptom that alarmed me most in that moment was the progressive skin wrinkling in some NCBRS teens.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Those moves have alarmed Japan, whose economy is dependent for its survival on open sea lines and which recently has been embroiled in a spat with China over remarks that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Adjective

Since the incident, the flamingo has been doing all right physically but is more anxious and nervous when being evaluated, said Peachy’s veterinarian, Tiffany Moore, medical director of Lone Mountain Animal Hospital.

— Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
As the military-style helicopter hovered above them, attendees from the rural, predominantly Latino community, began to get nervous.

— Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of nervous

Verb

After the duke’s death in 1972, the duchess, in increasingly poor health, fretted about what to do with her massive collection.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
At the time, engineers fretted about the safest way to move so much water to the other side while maintaining the dam’s integrity.

— Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of fretted

Adjective

There’s also reassuring initial bite at the top of the travel, yet the setup doesn’t feel grabby or overly anxious in everyday driving situations.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Gong’s collection followed the emotional arc of unrequited love, from the first spark and the anxious wait to the social-media sleuthing, a date, and the sudden disappearance that follows.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxious

Verb

During her brief address at the end of a two-hour-plus meeting, the Salvadoran ambassador stressed the need for adequate security measures and international support for the armed mission.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
The complaint does not charge him with espionage, theft of trade secrets, or acting as an agent of a foreign government, a point his defense stressed in its motion.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026