CONCERN Synonyms: 233 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of concern are anxiety , care , solicitude , and worry . While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. // crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

Q: When could 'anxiety' be used to replace 'concern'?

In some situations, the words anxiety and concern are roughly equivalent. However, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. // plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Q: When is 'care' a more appropriate choice than 'concern'?

The words care and concern are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. // a face worn by years of care

Q: When can 'solicitude' be used instead of 'concern'?

The synonyms solicitude and concern are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. // acted with typical maternal solicitude

Q: When is it sensible to use 'worry' instead of 'concern'?

While the synonyms worry and concern are close in meaning, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. // financial worries

concern 1 of 2

noun

Definition of concern

as in interest

a commercial or industrial activity or organization several banking concerns in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in worry

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble the recent crime wave has caused a great deal of concern in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

concern

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈsərn

as in to cover

to have (something) as a subject matter the book concerns the challenges faced by children growing up in single-parent households

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to affect

to be the business or affair of the problems of air and water pollution that concern all of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to worry

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy we were greatly concerned by reports that yet another previously unknown virus is now posing a threat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word concern distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of concern are anxiety, care, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When could anxiety be used to replace concern?

In some situations, the words anxiety and concern are roughly equivalent. However, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

When is care a more appropriate choice than concern?

The words care and concern are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can solicitude be used instead of concern?

The synonyms solicitude and concern are sometimes interchangeable, but solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When is it sensible to use worry instead of concern?

While the synonyms worry and concern are close in meaning, 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 concern

Noun

Global hospitality business Hilton is acutely aware of these concerns. — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 The only person willing to take Calvin’s concerns seriously is Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis), a marine zoologist researching out of a nearby facility. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Jews did not reach a majority in Palestine because of restrictive British immigration policies concerning Jews, while the British allowed unlimited Arab immigration into Palestine. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 Are the Norwegian authorities concerned for children’s safety — or are they offended by this family’s rigidly patriarchal beliefs, which include intolerance toward homosexuality? — Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for concern

Recent Examples of Synonyms for concern

Noun

Her interest seems to be the whole world, or at least the way her nation’s tentacles spread into it.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Ukraine’s defense industry faces a different R&D equation Buntar’s expansion comes as European defense technology attracts growing investor interest.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of interest

Noun

Plush carpeting, touches of turquoise in a largely eggshell-forward palette, tasteful landscape paintings that border on abstract, and spacious private balconies make up the subtle suite design, allaying any worries of dowdy beach resort decor.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Those moves have helped the stock market climb a wall of worry in the intervening years, including in 2026.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

In the bathrooms, neutral stone covers floors and bathtubs, and the lighting and mirrors are notably flattering.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
The route is expected to come into service next summer, albeit using slower trains that won’t cover the planned 316 miles.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of cover

Verb

In its demo version, included on the 20th-anniversary reissue, the song is emotional and politely affecting.

— Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2026
The Salty, an artisanal doughnut chain, is running a weeklong campaign benefiting the Breasties, a nonprofit that helps many groups of people affected by breast cancer.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of affect

Verb

Palo Alto Networks did that after buying [Israeli startup] CyberArk, but why would most companies bother?

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
That woman was truly unbothered, a term tossed around online, but the literal act of not being bothered is impossible for most people beyond the quirkiest, like my onetime neighbor, or maybe Fran Lebowitz.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bother

Noun

That’s the call to action that patients will find on the site for digital health company Everlywell, which has offered at-home lab tests directly to consumers for a decade.

— Katie Palmer, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
By merging the two failing car companies, Marchionne created the seventh-largest vehicle manufacturer in the world, increasing Fiat’s value more than tenfold.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of company

Noun

Fallout from the data sale Then there are fears this case may set precedent or have long-term consequences for workers.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Hours of silence and speculation in the aftermath added to a sense of fear in Saudi Arabia and across the region.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Verb

The mail stolen from the vehicle may have included election ballots, which were processed for delivery on that day, Lanning said.

— Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Previous recipients have included Korean production designer Ryu Seong-hie (Decision To Leave) and Taiwanese filmmaker and actress Sylvia Chang (Love Education, Daughter’s Daughter).

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of include

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conceptual

concern

concerned

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Style

“Concern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concern. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of concern

noun

verb

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