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worry

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noun

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

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 worry
Verb
Others worried that turning to AI for love could pull people away from real human relationships. Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025 In the wake of a transfer deadline that brought anger and worry from many supporters, the Wolves chairman gave an interview of more than half an hour to the club’s in-house television channel. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
Not your everyday anxiety Generalized anxiety disorder involves extreme worry or dread that interferes with a person's ability to function. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025 The United States was Triumph’s most promising market, and because convertibles were nearly legislated out of existence at the time due to misguided Department of Transportation (DOT) roll-over worries, Triumph launched the TR7 as a coupe. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for worry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worry
Verb
  • Portraying the ghost of Hamlet’s father at the play’s debut, his face and body covered in chalky white paint, his Shakespeare steps through the looking glass and becomes his own tragic player, strutting and fretting his hour upon the stage.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But don't fret — the fiberglass bovines were merely on a temporary hiatus from their essential post outside the custard shop, and nine of the 20 have since made their return, fresher than ever.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The women were too busy cooking, crafting, and caring for the family to bother with the stone tools used by men in hunting and building.
    Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?
    Time, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But all friends need to be honest with each other, to tell each other home truths when it’s needed, to confront those awkward moments without fear of the reaction.
    Steve Sedgwick, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The progressive fear that the Abundance movement wants to take over the Democratic Party isn’t baseless at all — its adherents have plenty of influence in it now.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Polite dogs are allowed, but your pup might get stressed in the noisy, crowded park.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Experts stress that normalizing GSM as a medical condition rather than a decline is key to encouraging care.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While the San Francisco 49ers started off their 2025 NFL schedule with a 17-13 road win over the Seattle Seahawks, there are definite reasons for their fans to be concerned.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As far as pricing is concerned, while multiple reports suggested that Apple may hike prices this year to offset tariff pressure, a JPMorgan report indicates the opposite.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • At the council meeting for the resolution, several migrants and their families spoke in favor of its passage, expressing their anxieties in day-to-day life, according to The Chronicle.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The starting point is learning to cultivate present-moment awareness and simply noticing your anxiety.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This was the mid 1980s and tandem skydiving hadn’t been popularized yet, so his father, Roger, adjusted accordingly by stuffing carpet padding into the leg pads to stop him from fussing.
    Angelina Liu, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Inside, Seán glanced briefly away from the television as the women fussed at Orla’s return.
    Anne Enright, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
Verb
  • Vic and Cali hadn’t wanted a wedding, but this had disturbed Vic’s parents.
    Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Two players take on the roles of a brother and sister who are searching for their missing buddies on an island inhabited by some rather disturbing monsters.
    Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worry. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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