When we talk about feelings or thoughts, sometimes we use the word “concern.” But many other words can replace it, like worry, care, or interest. These words can help us express our thoughts in different ways. In this article, you will learn 16 useful synonyms for concern.
| Synonym | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Worry | A feeling of unease or stress about something | She had worry about her exam results. |
| Anxiety | A state of nervousness or fear about something | His anxiety grew before the meeting. |
| Care | Showing thought or attention to someone or something | He showed care for his friend’s health. |
| Attention | Focus or thought given to an issue | The teacher gave attention to the problem. |
| Interest | Curiosity or attraction to a subject | She had a deep interest in art. |
| Consideration | Thoughtfulness in thinking about others or issues | He gave careful consideration before making a choice. |
| Trouble | A cause of difficulty or worry | The car engine gave him a lot of trouble. |
| Preoccupation | Being too focused on something | His preoccupation with work kept him busy. |
| Thought | The act of thinking or reflecting about something | She gave much thought to her decision. |
| Distress | A feeling of pain, sadness, or worry | The news caused her great distress. |
| Solicitude | Care and concern for someone’s well-being | His solicitude for his mother was touching. |
| Fear | An unpleasant emotion of danger or worry | He had fear about losing his job. |
| Unease | A mild sense of discomfort or nervousness | There was unease in the room before the speech. |
| Apprehension | Nervousness about something that may happen | She felt apprehension before the test. |
| Mindfulness | Being aware and thoughtful about something | His mindfulness about the team’s needs helped. |
| Responsibility | A duty to take care of something or someone | Parents have responsibility for their children. |
16 Different Ways to Say CONCERN: Another Word for CONCERN
Worry
Worry is one of the most common synonyms for concern. It refers to the uneasy thoughts we have when we are not sure what will happen. Worry can be about small things like being late for a meeting, or bigger matters like health or money. It often keeps the mind busy and makes it hard to relax. Understanding how to use this word can help express emotional stress more clearly.
- She could not sleep because of her worry about the future.
- His constant worry made him less productive at work.
- Parents often feel worry about their children’s safety.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a stronger word that shows deep nervousness or fear. Unlike simple worry, anxiety can affect both the mind and body. It makes people restless, uneasy, and sometimes even fearful about things that may or may not happen. Using anxiety instead of concern shows a higher level of tension. It is often linked with stressful events, exams, or important decisions.
- He had anxiety before giving his first public speech.
- Waiting for the doctor’s call filled her with anxiety.
- His anxiety about losing the job was clear.
Care
Care is another way to say concern when we mean showing thought or attention to others. It is softer and more positive than worry or anxiety. Care shows responsibility, love, or kindness toward someone or something. This synonym can be used in both personal and professional settings to express attention, effort, and kindness.
- She showed care for her younger brother’s health.
- He takes care in every detail of his work.
- The teacher’s care for her students was clear.
Attention
Attention refers to giving focus or thought to an issue. Unlike worry, it does not always mean stress or fear. Instead, attention shows that a matter is important enough to be noticed. This synonym is often used in classrooms, workplaces, or conversations where a person wants to highlight importance.
- He gave full attention to the meeting discussion.
- The company paid attention to customer complaints.
- Her attention to detail made the project perfect.
Interest
Interest can also be used in place of concern when it means curiosity or attraction. While concern often shows worry, interest highlights curiosity or engagement. This synonym fits when we talk about being drawn toward something we care to know more about.
- She showed interest in learning a new language.
- His interest in technology grew as he read more.
- They shared a strong interest in sports.
Consideration
Consideration means thoughtful concern for others or for an issue. It shows kindness, respect, or careful thought before making choices. Unlike worry, it is more about being careful and respectful. It can be used in everyday life when making decisions or showing care for others.
- He gave careful consideration before buying the house.
- Her consideration for others made her well respected.
- They acted with consideration toward the neighbors.
Trouble
Trouble means a cause of difficulty, concern, or problems. It is often used when something goes wrong and causes stress. Unlike worry, which is emotional, trouble points to the actual problem or issue that needs attention.
- The machine gave him a lot of trouble at work.
- She had trouble finding the right bus.
- His health caused trouble for the family.
Preoccupation
Preoccupation shows when someone is too focused on something, almost to the point of being distracted. It reflects a deep concern or constant thinking about a particular issue. This synonym is useful to describe a state of mind where one matter takes over other thoughts.
- His preoccupation with work made him forget lunch.
- She had preoccupation with her exams.
- Their preoccupation with money affected their happiness.
Thought
Thought as a synonym for concern means careful reflection or consideration about something. It may not always be stressful but shows the mental effort we give to an issue. Thought is softer and more neutral compared to worry or anxiety.
- She gave much thought before making the decision.
- His thought about helping others was inspiring.
- They put thought into every detail of the project.
Distress
Distress is a stronger synonym that expresses pain, sadness, or worry. It reflects deep emotional concern often linked to bad news, problems, or emotional suffering. Distress is more powerful than worry and can affect both emotions and actions.
- The sudden accident caused her great distress.
- His distress was clear when he lost the game.
- The bad news filled them with distress.
Solicitude
Solicitude is a thoughtful and caring synonym for concern. It shows a gentle and kind attention to someone’s needs or well-being. This word often describes the feeling of showing protective or affectionate care for others.
- His solicitude for his family was touching.
- She showed solicitude by bringing food to her neighbor.
- They felt his solicitude during the hard times.
Fear
Fear is a strong synonym that expresses concern in terms of danger or worry about harm. Unlike softer words, fear shows a powerful emotional reaction. It can be about real danger or something only imagined.
- He had fear about losing his job.
- She felt fear while walking alone at night.
- The fear of failure stopped him from trying.
Unease
Unease means a mild discomfort or nervousness about something. It is softer than fear or distress but still shows emotional concern. Unease is often used when something does not feel right or when there is quiet tension.
- She felt unease before speaking in front of the class.
- The news brought unease to the office.
- His unease about the decision was clear.
Apprehension
Apprehension is a synonym for concern that reflects nervousness about future events. It combines both fear and uncertainty. Apprehension shows that someone is worried about what might happen but not sure if it will be bad.
- She felt apprehension before the test.
- His apprehension about the surgery grew stronger.
- There was apprehension before the big match.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a thoughtful form of concern. It means being aware and careful about how actions affect others or situations. Instead of worry, mindfulness reflects responsible attention and awareness.
- His mindfulness about safety helped the team.
- She showed mindfulness while caring for her friend.
- Their mindfulness about the environment was impressive.
Responsibility
Responsibility is another word that can replace concern when it means having a duty to care for something or someone. It shows accountability and obligation. Unlike worry, responsibility reflects action and duty.
- Parents have responsibility for their children.
- He took responsibility for fixing the mistake.
- They felt responsibility to help their community.

Final Thoughts
Concern has many synonyms that carry slightly different shades of meaning. Some words show stress, some show kindness, and others show duty. Knowing how to use them helps you express thoughts more clearly. These 16 options will give you new ways to communicate and express concern in daily life.





