CARE Synonyms: 232 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'care' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of care are anxiety , concern , solicitude , and worry . While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. // a face worn by years of care

Q: When can 'anxiety' be used instead of 'care'?

The meanings of anxiety and care largely overlap; however, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. // plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Q: When might 'concern' be a better fit than 'care'?

While in some cases nearly identical to care , concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. // crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

Q: When would 'solicitude' be a good substitute for 'care'?

Although the words solicitude and care have much in common, solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. // acted with typical maternal solicitude

Q: Where would 'worry' be a reasonable alternative to 'care'?

The words worry and care are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. // financial worries

care 1 of 2

noun

ˈker

Definition of care next

as in attention

strict attentiveness to what one is doing reading the report with more care the second time, she detected several errors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in concern

attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility that's an extremely valuable violin, so handle it with care

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in carefulness

a close attentiveness to avoiding danger take care while crossing the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in worry

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble on vacation, without a care in the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in custody

responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something while you're under my care, you'll do as you're told

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in stewardship

the duty or function of watching or guarding for the sake of proper direction or control you'll have care of the project from its beginning to its completion

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in management

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something she stepped up and took over the care of the bank after her father retired

Synonyms & Similar Words

care

2 of 2

verb

as in to watch

to have an interest or concern for a teacher who cares what happens to her students long after they leave her classroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word care distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of care are anxiety, concern, solicitude, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can anxiety be used instead of care?

The meanings of anxiety and care largely overlap; however, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

When might concern be a better fit than care?

While in some cases nearly identical to care, concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When would solicitude be a good substitute for care?

Although the words solicitude and care have much in common, solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

Where would worry be a reasonable alternative to care?

The words worry and care are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety.

financial worries

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of care

Noun

Kelly Rita Perrigo was arrested this week in connection with a complaint made in September by the child's mother A nurse practitioner in Florida is accused of child neglect after allegedly starving a child who needs 24/7 medical care. —

Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 7 Feb. 2025 Nearly a year into their confinement, a doctor assessed the children needed physical and psychological care unavailable at the base. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

Verb

Lily, who cried over a flimsy plastic Disney princess, will not care that the Disney paper dolls are flat. —

Judy Holmes, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Possible spoiler: The tempting alternative Wicked – Marc Platt Nobody cares about a film’s box office performance more than producers, and this film is a giant blockbuster. —

Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for care

Recent Examples of Synonyms for care

Noun

His stories enthrall his fellow captives, and capture the attention of Hasan, the enigmatic and feared Bey of Algiers, igniting an affinity between captor and captive.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Image The Historian By Elizabeth Kostova In her fresh take on the vampire novel, Kostova reworks the Dracula legend with a historian’s meticulous attention to detail.

— M.L. Rio, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025