adjective
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causing worry; vexing
-
tending to worry
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of worrisome
Explanation
If something is worrisome, it bothers or upsets you. Your nervous dog may find the sound of thunder extremely worrisome. When the news reports are full of worrisome developments — crime, climate change, local budget cuts — it can be reassuring to hear some good news, which is why many news broadcasts also include feel-good stories about lost pets reunited with their owners and kids raising money for the local library. Worrisome things do just what you'd think: they make you worry. This word first appeared around 1820 in North America, and it's been used ever since for things that cause distress.
Vocabulary lists containing worrisome
-some
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Vocabulary from Readings 1, Unit 1
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English Language Development Texts, Unit 3
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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 worrisome outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus has sickened at least 336 people and killed 88.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
A power purchasing agreement with nuclear energy start-up Helion Energy was flagged as particularly worrisome, given the firm has yet to ever deliver any power.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
That he brings a gun is a worrisome start, per Chekhov.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Notice volume was elevated both weeks and there has been some frequent distribution, which is a bit worrisome.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
But the worrisome reports of what was happening in Germany became harder and harder to avoid.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
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.
