worrying

1 of 2

adjective

wor·​ry·​ing ˈwər-ē-iŋ How to pronounce worrying (audio)
ˈwə-rē-
Synonyms of worryingnext
: causing worry : creating reason for worry : troubling
a worrying trend/development
a worrying question
The presence of the knife on the stage of the murder was a worrying circumstance for Wilson.—Mark Twain
worryingly adverb
When the secretary returned, she handed us an envelope that looked worryingly official … —Caroline Alexander
… money held by households has risen at a worryingly slow rate over the past year … —The Economist

worrying

2 of 2

present participle of worry entry 1

Examples of worrying in a Sentence

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Adjective
Media outlets, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, turned out articles that suggested a worrying picture of the corridor and restaurants that seemed to be closing left and right. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026 There’s a worrying overlap with the impulse to self-harm, which is on the rise among adolescents and taking new forms. — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026 Even without arthritis, studies show knees can change in worrying ways during midlife. — Aaron Steckelberg, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Chinstrap penguin populations have experienced worrying declines in recent years. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worrying

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of worrying was in 1817

Rhymes for worrying

See All Rhymes for worrying

Browse Nearby Words

worry beads
worrying
worryingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worrying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worrying. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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