In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips to accompany the Real Vocabulary theme we look at how you can expand your vocabulary in English by using different words and expressions instead of core vocabulary items.
This set of language tips explores the words and phrases we use to talk about feelings. This week’s tip looks at more adjectives and phrases that mean extremely worried:
disturbed extremely worried about something, especially something that seems morally wrong:
- I am very disturbed by what is happening in this town.
- Human rights lawyers are disturbed about reports of torture from the area.
preoccupied so worried about something that you cannot think about anything else:
- Martin was too preoccupied with his own problems to notice that his daughter needed him.
- She seemed preoccupied and absent-minded.
troubled worried about something over a long period of time, especially because you do not know what to do about it:
- He was troubled by a feeling that things just didn’t add up.
- Kevin wore a troubled expression.
frantic or insane or sick with worry extremely worried about something:
- He has driven us almost insane with worry.
beside yourself with worry extremely worried about something:
- Her parents were beside themselves with worry.
Did you know that Macmillan Dictionary includes a full thesaurus? This page lists more ways to say ‘feeling worried‘.
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