What does worrier mean?
A worrier is chiefly a person who tends to worry: someone who anticipates difficulties, feels anxious about what might happen, or repeatedly imagines the worst. The word can be sympathetic, as when describing a concerned parent, or mildly teasing, as when calling a friend a chronic worrier. It may also function as the comparative adjective of worried, identifying the more anxious of two people, although more worried is generally preferred in formal contexts. Related expressions include chronic worrier and natural worrier. Although it can suggest excessive anxiety, worrier does not necessarily mean that someone worries unreasonably; context determines whether the term is critical, affectionate, or simply descriptive. The word is useful because it captures both the familiar habit of worrying and the comparative idea of being more worried than someone else.
A person who is inclined to worry or become anxious.
"He had always been a worrier who expected every journey to go wrong."
Often informal and sometimes gently teasing; it can also be used affectionately to describe someone who is naturally cautious.
The comparative form of worried, meaning more worried.
"The worrier candidate refused to make any promises before the election."
More worried is more common in formal usage.
The usual plural is worriers, used when referring to multiple people who are prone to worry.
"The worriers spent the evening imagining every possible delay."
A worrier can name a person who worries—or simply compare two worried people: she is the worrier of the two.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does worrier come from?
The noun worrier is an agentive formation from the English verb worry, using the productive suffix -er to mean one who performs an action. In its adjectival use, worrier is the comparative of worried, formed with the comparative suffix -er. Related forms such as worried, worrying, and worrisome continue the same English root.
How worrier is actually used
As a noun, worrier is often mildly informal and can be affectionate or gently teasing, as in a natural worrier. In the adjectival comparative, more worried is usually more natural in formal writing.
Easily confused with worrier
A worrier is someone who worries, while a warrior is a fighter or soldier.