WORRY Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

worry 1 of 2

verb

ˈwər-ē

Definition of worry

as in to fret

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to bother

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

worry

2 of 2

noun

as in fear

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble she can only concentrate on something when she is free of worry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

But as news spread in the small community located on the Seneca Nation of Indians reservation, parents and teachers worried about how students’ personal information would be used. — Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Kelce, who opened his 14th NFL season Wednesday at Chiefs training camp, won’t have to worry about playing home games on turf, because GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium features a grass surface. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

Noun

Silva worries, for example, about getting to a campus that is farther away. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 But my biggest worry is that Taiwanese people will give up on our current way of life and the pursuit of democracy, equality, and freedom that lasted more than a century. — Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for worry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worry

Verb

Shop additional Ilia beauty products below, and don’t fret about the heat ruining your glam.

— Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Still, shares of Alphabet fell 3% in after-hours trading on Wednesday, as investors fretted about the company’s rising capital expenditures (up to $205 billion in 2026 spending) and fierce competition facing its Gemini family of AI models.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 23 July 2026

Definition of fret

Noun

However, analyst Gavin Parsons highlighted that an acceleration in organic revenue growth would settle market fears.

— Assiatou Hann, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026
Herzog raised fears that the mayor’s rhetoric stokes hate against Jews, including in New York City, which holds the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of fear

Verb

McCarthy stressed there are tools the team can use to refine their tackling technique without driving each other into the turf.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Physicians are alarmed, stressing that FDA licensing is crucial for guiding patients, as this decision risks confusing consumers about regulated versus unregulated treatments.

— Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of stress

Verb

According to the complaint, Grigsby attempted to tell Martinez that concerns about a defense attorney’s performance should be directed to supervisors rather than discussed in open court.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
These remarks come after HeatWorld reported that the sisters have been concerned about their safety, with tensions rising after Eugenie was recently heckled by a man making comments about her father in March.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 July 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

The headlines often focus on uber-selective colleges and universities, the lengths students and parents will go to access them, and the parts of the process of applying that evoke the most anxiety.

— Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
One of the most dreadful packing pain points is the anxiety of whether everything will actually fit in your suitcase, which, thankfully, my Away Bigger Carry-on has eliminated.

— Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Verb

Out of competition The world of elite sports is taken to disturbing new heights full of brutality and painful ambition in the new film from Nikias Chryssos (The Bunker, Rave On, A Pure Place).

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
When walking down the charming Main Street, you won't be disturbed by honking or traffic since the island has banned cars since 1898.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Definition of disturb

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worrisome

worry

worrying

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“Worry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worry. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of worry

verb

noun

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