Cool MateAnxious vs Concerned vs Worried
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Anxious
Concerned
Worried
| Anxious | Concerned | Worried | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæŋkʃəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæŋkʃəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsɜːnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsɜːrnd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌrid/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːrid/"]/ |
| Meaning | Worried or nervous about something. | worried or anxious about something | Feeling anxious or concerned about something. |
| Example | She felt anxious about the upcoming exam. | She was very concerned about the upcoming exam results. | She is worried about her exam results. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, for | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, at, by, be, especially, particularly, specifically, with | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, worried sick |
| Antonyms | calm, relaxed, composed | unconcerned, indifferent, carefree | calm, untroubled, carefree |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'anxious' with 'eager', which means excited or looking forward to something., Using 'anxious' without a preposition; it should be 'anxious about' or 'anxious for'., Thinking 'anxious' always means worry, not recognizing it can imply a strong desire in certain contexts. | Confused with 'concerning' which means 'about', Using 'concerned' when feeling indifferent, Using the wrong preposition, e.g., saying 'concerned for' instead of 'concerned about' | 'Worried of' instead of 'worried about', Confusing 'worried' with 'worriedly' (the adverb form), 'Worry' as a noun instead of using the adjective 'worried' |
| Usage notes | Used when feeling nervous or uneasy about a situation. Generally appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but in very casual settings, some might use 'worried' instead. | Use 'concerned' in contexts where you want to express worry or care for someone's situation. It is appropriate in both spoken and written communication. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where less formal language might be more suitable. | Use 'worried' in situations of concern or anxiety. It's suitable for both casual and more serious contexts. Avoid using it in overly formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Anxious vs Concerned vs Worried
What's the difference between Anxious, Concerned, and Worried?
Anxious: Worried or nervous about something. Concerned: worried or anxious about something Worried: Feeling anxious or concerned about something.
Are Anxious, Concerned, and Worried the same CEFR level?
Anxious: B2, Concerned: B2, Worried: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Anxious, Concerned, and Worried?
Anxious: adjective, Concerned: adjective, Worried: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Anxious: She felt anxious about the upcoming exam. Concerned: She was very concerned about the upcoming exam results. Worried: She is worried about her exam results.
Can I use Anxious, Concerned, and Worried interchangeably?
Not always. Anxious, Concerned, and Worried are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.