Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing distress, concern, or anxiety: Describes something that makes one feel troubled, uneasy, or anxious about a potential problem or outcome.

2. Noun:

   • The act of moving something by repeated tugs or pushes: The action of repeatedly pulling or pushing at something, often to loosen or free it.
   • The act of harassing or bothering someone persistently: The action of troubling or annoying someone with repeated attentions or attacks.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The worrying increase in pollution levels demands immediate action.
  • She received worrying news about her father's health.
  • The most worrying aspect of the report was the financial forecast.

• Noun (act of tugging):

  • After some persistent worrying at the knot, he finally managed to untie it.
  • The dog's constant worrying of the rope frayed its end.

• Noun (act of harassing):

  • The constant worrying by the paparazzi made the celebrity's life difficult.
  • The bullies' relentless worrying of the new student was unacceptable.

Advanced Usage

• "To be worrying about": This is the verb form from which the adjective is derived. It means to feel anxious or concerned about something.
  • She is worrying about her exam results.
• "A worrying trend/sign": A common collocation indicating a pattern or indicator that causes concern.
  • The decline in voter turnout is a worrying trend for democracy.

Variants and Related Words

• Worry (verb/noun): The base form. As a verb: to feel anxious. As a noun: a state of anxiety or a source of anxiety.
  • Don't worry about the details. (verb)
  • Money is a constant worry for them. (noun)
• Worried (adjective): Describes the person who feels anxiety.
  • He had a worried look on his face.
• Worrisome (adjective): Very similar in meaning to "worrying," causing worry.
  • The patient's symptoms were worrisome.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Disturbing, troubling, disquieting, alarming, distressing, perturbing, anxious, concerning.
• Noun (harassing): Harassment, badgering, pestering, tormenting.

Related Phrases

• "Not to be worrying": An informal phrase meaning something is not a cause for concern.
  • A small mistake like that is not to be worrying about.
• "Stop worrying at it": A phrase telling someone to stop fiddling with or persistently bothering something.
  • Stop worrying at that loose thread; you'll make the hole bigger.

Adjective

1. causing distress or worry or anxiety
   • distressing (or disturbing) news
   • lived in heroic if something distressful isolation
   • a disturbing amount of crime
   • a revelation that was most perturbing
   • a new and troubling thought
   • in a particularly worrisome predicament
   • a worrying situation
   • a worrying time

Noun

1. the act of moving something by repeated tugs or pushes
   • vigorous worrying finally loosened the saw
2. the act of harassing someone