Concern vs. Worry — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 13, 2023
Concern is a matter of interest or importance to someone. Worry is the state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems.
Difference Between Concern and Worry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Concern generally refers to a matter that is of interest or importance and can engender a sense of care or attention toward that matter. On the contrary, Worry often embodies a more intense, anxiety-driven emotion, frequently associated with fear and nervousness about something uncertain.
In a professional or casual conversation, Concern could be used to address matters requiring attention or deliberation without necessarily implying distress or anxiety. Meanwhile, Worry introduces a heightened emotional state, indicating that the matter not only requires attention but also creates anxiety or stress.
While Concern could be seen as a neutral or even positive engagement with a matter, suggesting a responsible awareness or involvement, Worry tends to lean towards a negative, potentially harmful engagement, often implying excessive thinking about problems or fears.
Using Concern in communication can indicate a level-headed and reasonable engagement with a topic, opening space for discussion and problem-solving. Alternatively, using Worry could indicate a scenario where emotional involvement may overshadow logical or pragmatic discussion, as worry is often paired with anxiety and stress.
In a nurturing context, expressing Concern for someone exhibits care, attentiveness, and thoughtful regard for their well-being without indicating personal distress. Expressing Worry, however, implies a personal emotional toll, revealing that the individual’s situation is causing you anxiety or fear as well.
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Comparison Chart
Emotional Intensity
Generally mild or neutral
Typically high and anxious
Focus
Can be on positive, neutral, or negative matters
Almost always on potential or actual problems
Duration & Persistence
May be temporary or lasting, depending on the context
Often persistent and ongoing
Impact on Decision Making
May or may not impact directly
Often hinders clear, rational decision making
Associated Feelings
Interest, care, involvement
Anxiety, fear, stress
Compare with Definitions
Concern
A business or establishment.
The new policy affects every concern in the industry.
Worry
To tear or wear with the teeth.
The dog began to worry the bone.
Concern
An object of worry, attention, or care.
Safety is our primary concern.
Worry
Worry refers to the thoughts, images, emotions, and actions of a negative nature in a repetitive, uncontrollable manner that results from a proactive cognitive risk analysis made to avoid or solve anticipated potential threats and their potential consequences.
Concern
Relate to; be about
The report is mainly concerned with 1984 onwards
The story concerns a friend of mine
Worry
To feel uneasy or concerned about something; be troubled.
Concern
Make (someone) anxious or worried
Don't concern yourself, old boy—my lips are sealed
The roof of the barn concerns me because eventually it will fall in
Worry
To seize something with the teeth and bite or tear repeatedly
A squirrel worrying at a nut.
Concern
Anxiety; worry
Carole gazed at her with concern
Worry
To touch or handle something nervously or persistently
Worry at a hangnail.
Concern
A matter of interest or importance to someone
Housing is the concern of the Housing Executive
The prospect should be of concern to us all
Worry
To attempt to deal with something in a persistent or dogged manner
Worried along at the problem.
Concern
A business
The town's only travel agent was a small, debt-ridden concern
Worry
To cause to feel anxious, distressed, or troubled.
Concern
A complicated or awkward object.
Worry
To seize with the teeth and bite or tug at repeatedly
A dog worrying a bone.
Concern
To have to do with or relate to
An article that concerns the plight of homeless people.
Worry
To touch or handle nervously or persistently
Worrying the loose tooth.
Concern
To be of interest or importance to
This problem concerns all of us.
Worry
To attack roughly and repeatedly; harass
Worrying the enemy ships.
Concern
To engage the attention of; involve
We concerned ourselves with accomplishing the task at hand.
Worry
To bother or annoy, as with petty complaints.
Concern
To cause anxiety or uneasiness in
The firm's weak financial posture is starting to concern its stockholders.
Worry
To attempt to deal with in a persistent or repeated manner
Analysts have worried the problem for a decade.
Concern
To be of importance.
Worry
To chase and nip at or attack
A dog worrying steers.
Concern
A matter that relates to or affects one
What I do is not your concern.
Worry
The act of worrying or the condition of being worried; persistent mental uneasiness
"Having come to a decision, the lad felt a sense of relief from the worry that had haunted him for many sleepless nights" (Edgar Rice Burroughs).
Concern
Regard for or interest in someone or something
His concern for you is genuine.
Worry
A source of nagging concern or uneasiness.
Concern
A troubled or anxious state of mind
A frown that expressed great concern.
Worry
(intransitive) To be troubled; to give way to mental anxiety or doubt.
Stop worrying about your test; it’ll be fine.
Concern
A business establishment or enterprise; a firm.
Worry
(transitive) Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress.
Your tone of voice worries me.
Concern
That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A matter of interest to someone.
Mark’s health was of great concern to Connie.
Worry
(transitive) To harass; to irritate or distress.
The President was worried into military action by persistent advisors.
Concern
The placement of interest or worry on a subject.
Most people in Australia have no concern for the recent events in London.
Worry
(transitive) To seize or shake by the throat, especially of a dog or wolf.
Your dog’s been worrying sheep again.
Concern
A worry; a sense that something may be wrong; an identification of a possible problem.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about the document.
Worry
(transitive) To touch repeatedly, to fiddle with.
Concern
The expression of solicitude, anxiety, or compassion toward a thing or person.
Judy's eyes filled with concern as she listened to the news report.
Worry
To strangle.
Concern
A business, firm or enterprise; a company.
The employees’ attitude is really hurting the concern.
A going concern
Worry
A strong feeling of anxiety.
I'm afflicted by worry throughout the night.
Concern
(programming) Any set of information that affects the code of a computer program.
Worry
An instance or cause of such a feeling.
My main worry is that I'll miss the train.
Concern
(transitive) To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.
Worry
A person who causes worry.
Concern
(transitive) To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest.
A good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.
Worry
To harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth.
A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death;That dog that had his teeth before his eyes,To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood.
Concern
(transitive) To make somebody worried.
I’m concerned that she’s becoming an alcoholic.
Worry
To harass or beset with importunity, or with care an anxiety; to vex; to annoy; to torment; to tease; to fret; to trouble; to plague.
Let them rail,And worry one another at their pleasure.
Worry him out till he gives consent.
Concern
To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with any other nation.
It much concerns a preacher first to learnThe genius of his audience and their turn.
Ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned.
Worry
To harass with labor; to fatigue.
Concern
To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest; as, a good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.
They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favor.
Worry
To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe; as, the child worries; the horse worries.
Concern
To be of importance.
Which to deny concerns more than avails.
Worry
A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety; fret; as, to be in a worry.
Concern
That which relates or belongs to one; business; affair.
The private concerns of fanilies.
Worry
Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness;
New York traffic is a constant concern
It's a major worry
Concern
That which affects the welfare or happiness; interest; moment.
Mysterious secrets of a high concern.
Worry
A strong feeling of anxiety;
His worry over the prospect of being fired
It is not work but worry that kills
He wanted to die and end his troubles
Concern
Interest in, or care for, any person or thing; regard; solicitude; anxiety.
O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concernsAnd gentle wishes follow me to battle.
Worry
Be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy;
I worry about my job
Concern
Persons connected in business; a firm and its business; as, a banking concern.
Worry
Be concerned with;
I worry about my grades
Concern
Something that interests you because it is important or affects you;
The safety of the ship is the captain's concern
Worry
Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress;
I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is worrying me
Concern
An anxious feeling;
Care had aged him
They hushed it up out of fear of public reaction
Worry
Be on the mind of;
I worry about the second Germanic consonant
Concern
A commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it;
He bought his brother's business
A small mom-and-pop business
A racially integrated business concern
Worry
Lacerate by biting;
The dog worried his bone
Concern
Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness;
New York traffic is a constant concern
It's a major worry
Worry
Touch or rub constantly;
The old man worried his beads
Concern
A feeling of sympathy for someone or something;
She felt strong concern for those less fortunate
Worry
To give way to anxiety or unease.
Don’t worry; everything will be fine.
Concern
Have to do with or be relevant to;
There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
Worry
To cause to feel anxiety or concern.
This situation worries me a lot.
Concern
Be on the mind of;
I worry about the second Germanic consonant
Worry
A state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.
My primary worry is his safety.
Concern
Interest in or care for a particular matter.
Your health is of great concern to me.
Worry
To bother or annoy persistently.
Stop worrying your sister!
Concern
To relate or pertain to.
This matter concerns all of us.
Concern
To cause worry to; make uneasy.
Your words concern me a bit.
Common Curiosities
Can Concern ever be a positive emotion?
Yes, having Concern can indicate caring or interest without negative implications.
What are the basic definitions of Concern and Worry?
Concern often refers to an interest or care about something, while Worry involves feeling anxious about something.
Can Worry ever be positive?
Generally, Worry is not considered positive as it primarily indicates anxiety or stress.
Does Worry always indicate a higher emotional state than Concern?
Typically yes, Worry tends to suggest a higher level of emotional distress than Concern.
How does Concern relate to responsibility?
Concern may indicate a responsible and attentive approach to matters requiring attention.
Can Concern and Worry be used interchangeably?
No, Concern might not convey the anxiety that Worry does.
Can Concern be a noun and a verb?
Yes, Concern can refer to an issue (noun) or to involve/relate to something (verb).
Is Worry used as a noun and a verb?
Yes, Worry refers to a state of anxiety (noun) and the act of feeling anxious (verb).
How does one express Concern without causing Worry?
Express Concern by sharing care or interest without indicating personal anxiety or fear to prevent causing Worry.
Can businesses also be referred to as Concerns?
Yes, Concern can also mean a business or enterprise.
Can a person feel Concern without expressing it?
Yes, Concern can be felt internally without being overtly expressed to others.
Is Worry always related to problems?
Largely, yes. Worry typically arises from potential or actual problems or challenges.
Can Concern be unemotional?
Potentially, as Concern may point to mere interest or involvement without emotional investment.
What physiological effects can Worry have?
Worry can lead to stress, anxiety, and physical health issues like sleep disturbances.
How to lessen Worry about something?
Focusing on solutions, staying present, and perhaps seeking support can lessen Worry.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
