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Synonyms

worried sick

Idioms  

  1. Also, worried to death. Extremely anxious, as in Her parents were worried sick when she didn't come home all night, or We've been worried to death about the drop in the stock market. These somewhat hyperbolic phrases (one could conceivably feel ill from worrying but would hardly die from it) date from the second half of the 1800s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The other three are native-born Americans, but she's worried sick every time they leave the house.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Once upon a time, not long ago, Elon Musk was worried sick about climate change.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2025

He said it was for "the mums and dads" who like him were "worried sick about the safety of our kids online."

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2024

“I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our children online.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2024

“I’m not traveling to a city I’ve never been to before. Mom would be worried sick if she found out! We can’t do that to her.”

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.