CARE Synonyms: 232 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'care' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of care are anxiety , concern , solicitude , and worry . While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. // a face worn by years of care

Q: When can 'anxiety' be used instead of 'care'?

The meanings of anxiety and care largely overlap; however, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. // plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Q: When might 'concern' be a better fit than 'care'?

While in some cases nearly identical to care , concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. // crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

Q: When would 'solicitude' be a good substitute for 'care'?

Although the words solicitude and care have much in common, solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. // acted with typical maternal solicitude

Q: Where would 'worry' be a reasonable alternative to 'care'?

The words worry and care are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. // financial worries

care 1 of 2

noun

ˈker

Definition of care next

as in attention

strict attentiveness to what one is doing reading the report with more care the second time, she detected several errors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in concern

attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility that's an extremely valuable violin, so handle it with care

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in carefulness

a close attentiveness to avoiding danger take care while crossing the street

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in worry

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble on vacation, without a care in the world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in custody

responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something while you're under my care, you'll do as you're told

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as in stewardship

the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control you'll have care of the project from its beginning to its completion

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as in management

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something she stepped up and took over the care of the bank after her father retired

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care

2 of 2

verb

as in to watch

to have an interest or concern for a teacher who cares what happens to her students long after they leave her classroom

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word care distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of care are anxiety, concern, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can anxiety be used instead of care?

The meanings of anxiety and care largely overlap; however, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

When might concern be a better fit than care?

While in some cases nearly identical to care, concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When would solicitude be a good substitute for care?

Although the words solicitude and care have much in common, solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

Where would worry be a reasonable alternative to care?

The words worry and care are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 care

Noun

The doctor also suggested more emphasis on non-invasive wellness modalities like yoga, acupuncture and chiropractic care. —

Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 27 Jan. 2025 Think of it as your go-to for sensitive or post-procedure skin care. —

Kiana Murden, Vogue, 26 Jan. 2025

Verb

The court of public opinion, which over the past decade has seen and heard everything, no longer cares. —

Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025 In the painting, there is caring (the one who is looking at the mother), there is rest (the one lying with eyes closed), and there is loneliness (the one looking away, the one looking down, the mother gazing into space). —

Karl Ove Knausgaard, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for care

Recent Examples of Synonyms for care

Noun

An ‘anchor’ for retirement While the swelling number of workers in this age bracket — more than 11 million in 2024 — has gained attention in recent years, the reasons for this outsized growth date back decades.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2025
One look that grabbed my attention was an emerald green velvet frock by Vicnate donned by the night’s host, Yvonne Orji.

— Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 2 Feb. 2025