worrier
Chronic anxiety sufferer
A worrier is someone who worries habitually or excessively.
The word usually describes a personality tendency rather than a temporary state: She's always been a worrier.
A worrier anticipates problems, frets over outcomes, and struggles to let concerns go.
The term is mildly critical but often affectionate—worriers worry because they care.
Troubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- tenseStrained or nervous
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
fretful · jittery · panicky · fearful · distressed · agitated · alarmed · troubled
Ponder far too much
- broodHatchlings as a group
- obsessDwell on compulsively
- ruminateThink deeply and repeatedly
- dwellInhabit a place
stew · agonize · catastrophize · fixate · spiral · second-guess · overanalyze · perseverate
Nervous anticipation of trouble
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
misgiving · nervousness · insecurity · fear · anxiety · pessimism · doubt · disquiet
Carefully attentive, observant
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- hypervigilantAbnormally heightened awareness state
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- waryGuardedly alert
guarded · careful · heedful · circumspect · attentive · overprotective · hovering · helicopter
anxious
Troubled by uncertainty
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- tenseStrained or nervous
uneasy · fretful · jittery · panicky · fearful · distressed · agitated · alarmed · troubled · antsy
overthink
Ponder far too much
dwell · stew · agonize · catastrophize · fixate · spiral · second-guess · overanalyze · perseverate · worrywart
apprehension
Nervous anticipation of trouble
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
dread · misgiving · nervousness · insecurity · fear · anxiety · pessimism · doubt · disquiet · angst
watchful
Carefully attentive, observant
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- hypervigilantAbnormally heightened awareness state
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
wary · guarded · careful · heedful · circumspect · attentive · overprotective · hovering · helicopter · smothering
overwhelmed
Defeated by sheer volume
insomniac · frazzled · haggard · careworn · stressed · pressured · burdened · tense · fatigued · drained
- compulsivesperfectionist, obsessive, neurotic, control freak, neat freak
- hesitant typeshesitator, waverer, ditherer, fence-sitter, second guesser
- worriersfretter, overthinker, worrywart, nervous wreck, bundle of nerves
- personalitiesintrovert, optimist, extrovert, pessimist, idealist
- social typesnormie, jock, hippie, goth, diva
- difficult peopleegomaniac, egotist, nitpicker, drama queen, control freak
worriercarefree spirit
Attitude without anxiety
free spirit · fatalist · stoic · zen master · optimist
- no worriesCasual dismissal of concern
- worried sickIntensely anxious to illness
- be worriedExperience anxious concern
- no worries mate