concern 1 of 2

noun

Definition of concernnext
1
as in interest
a commercial or industrial activity or organization several banking concerns in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
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 How to pronounce concern (audio)
1
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
2
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
3
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
Harvey said at the time that his biggest concern was the people being deceived. — Victor Dey, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Early customer reviews are still trickling in; while many praise it as a cute, charming gift item, a few buyers have raised concerns regarding audio quality and component durability. — New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
In today's unpredictable economic climate, savers may be concerned about the safety associated with a CD account. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Investors may also be concerned about whether shares have more room to run. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for concern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concern
  1. interest
  2. worry
  3. cover
  4. affect
  5. bother
  6. company
  7. fear
  8. include
Noun
  • Involving children who have taken an interest in building their lunchbox menu can build confidence, encourage curiosity about food, and create an opportunity for connection.
    — Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • To his surprise, the room was filled with 40 or so folks when Millard arrived, showing the early interest in his product.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of interest
Noun
  • But the worry is that hackers could cause greater disruptions, such as a surge in water pressure that could burst pipes and endanger critical facilities, including hospitals, Corman said.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • As new-ish CBS News chieftain Bari Weiss looks poised to rule over CNN too, there are worries in Blue State and MSM circles about the fate of the cable newser — a thorn in Donald Trump‘s paw — if the ParaBros deal closes.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of worry
Verb
  • Over the years, she's been given a moon rock and received a piece of gold foil that covered the Apollo 11 capsule — a gift from one of the Navy frogmen who helped recover the command module and its crew.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The program covers up to 80% of the costs to rent and provides $10,000 grants to cover the costs of things like permit fees and insurance expenses.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cover
Verb
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition causes a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Kitchen temperature and humidity significantly affect the quality of bread made in a bread machine.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • The one issue that is bothering me at or just before launch is the CPU's Wear and Tear management.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • The company said riders who repeatedly violate parking rules may receive warnings, fines or other account actions.
    — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Coming out with any new car can typically cost a major company around $2 billion, but the research and development to bring such an inexpensive EV to the market has taken much more than that.
    — Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of company
Noun
  • Leaders in Springfield say the growing ICE presence many fear hasn’t yet materialized.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Finally, heading off to senior year wearing a Care Bears backpack could be a coping mechanism that helps teens deal with fears about the future.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of fear
Verb
  • The nine-date tour included stops in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City.
    — Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The list includes measures such as lifting the US naval blockade, withdrawing military forces and permanently ending the war.
    — Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of include

Browse Nearby Words

conceptual
concern
concerned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Concern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concern. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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