WORRYING Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

worrying

verb

Definition of worrying

present participle of worry

as in fretting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bothering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 worrying That’s also worrying Western agencies like the CIA, which share intel with Germany. — Greg Dixon, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 The implications are worrying, especially when considering the fact that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Carla also keeps exchanging these looks with Johnny, which is worrying me. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 The president issued an executive order earlier this week that allows truckers to use tax-exempt offroad diesel on highways without worrying about federal penalties. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 With early voting already underway, a question worrying some voters is what role — if any — immigration enforcement officers might have at polling places through Election Day. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 Cloud computing let businesses add capacity without worrying much about what sat behind it. — Anthony Milewski, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Earlier in Stearns’ tenure, a source familiar with the Mets’ front office said the team factored in the adjustment to New York for major additions without worrying too much about it on smaller ones. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026 The director likens his own role on the trip to that of Bill, who is slowly driven to madness by worrying about a particular child, the class punching bag Kenneth (Olof Olingdahl). — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worrying

Verb

Ratings agencies and investors are fretting about leverage as the combined company enters a shifting media landscape with $80 billion in debt after one of the biggest leveraged buyouts in corporate history.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Billy Joel doesn’t want anyone fretting too much over his health.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of fretting

Verb

His work is autobiographical and based on whatever has been bothering him that year.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
For example, companies that benefit from customers not bothering to cancel subscriptions, compare prices, or search for better deals have taken a beating in recent weeks.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bothering

Verb

But the idea that fine adaptations of great books need to be stopping points, rather than springboards, is alarming by itself.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
There are signs that the President is unravelling, in ways that are different from late-period Joe Biden but are alarming all the same.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarming

Verb

Five former corporate employees agreed to speak with NPR on the condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation from Mazal Group.

— Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
The plan fell apart in 2024 amid state and federal lawsuits fearing consumer harm and anticompetitive practices.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fearing

Verb

Furthermore, the use of economic arguments to justify oppression has disturbing historical precedent.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Police Chief Paul Joseph said at a press conference on Tuesday that Lieu had a criminal history involving firearms and disturbing behavior.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

Today’s computers are approachable, but also distracting, argues Caligra co-founder and CEO Grant Bisset.

— Daniel Varghese, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Maybe his conning can be curtailed someday, but the thought there’d ever be enough distracting chaos for a similarly lengthy follow-up is almost too much to bear.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of distracting

Browse Nearby Words

worry

worrying

worrywart

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“Worrying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worrying. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of worrying

verb

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