What does worriment mean?
Worriment is a noun meaning a state of worry, anxiety, or mental unease. It refers not to a specific fear but to the general condition of being troubled by uncertainty, difficulty, or concern. A person might experience worriment while awaiting important news, confronting an unresolved problem, or anticipating possible complications. The word has an unusually formal and old-fashioned sound, so it often appears in literary, nostalgic, or deliberately humorous contexts rather than ordinary conversation. It can convey a broader and more sustained emotional condition than a brief feeling of uneasiness, while remaining less severe than grief or despair. Although uncommon today, worriment is a useful example of English noun formation: adding the suffix “-ment” to “worry” creates a word for the state of being worried. Its blend of plain meaning and elevated style makes it especially memorable and effective in prose that seeks an antiquarian or gently comic tone.
nounA state of worry or anxiety, especially one caused by uncertain or difficult circumstances.
- A condition of mental anxiety, worry, or distress caused by concern or uncertainty.
"A flurry of unanswered questions filled her with worriment as the train approached the border."
"A flurry of unanswered questions filled her with worriment as the train approached the border."
"The committee's unexplained delay caused considerable worriment among the applicants."
The regular plural is possible but rare, as the noun is normally used in the uncountable sense.
"The committee dismissed the various worriments raised during the meeting."
Worriment packs “worry” into a single grand-sounding noun—and it predates Victorian English.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does worriment come from?
Worriment was formed in early 17th-century English by combining “worry” with the suffix “-ment,” a suffix commonly used to create nouns denoting a condition or state. The resulting word names the state of worry or anxiety. Words such as “worried,” “worrying,” and “worrisome” belong to the same worry-derived family, although they are not grammatical forms of worriment itself.
How worriment is actually used
Worriment is now rare and sounds formal, old-fashioned, or deliberately humorous. It is more likely to appear in literary or nostalgic writing than in everyday contemporary speech.
Easily confused with worriment
Worryment is a less formal variant spelling of worriment; both words denote a state of worry or anxiety.