SOLICITUDE Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of solicitude are anxiety , care , concern , and worry . While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another. // acted with typical maternal solicitude

Q: When could 'anxiety' be used to replace 'solicitude'?

Although the words anxiety and solicitude have much in common, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure. // plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

Q: In what contexts can 'care' take the place of 'solicitude'?

The words care and solicitude can be used in similar contexts, but care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension. // a face worn by years of care

Q: When can 'concern' be used instead of 'solicitude'?

The words concern and solicitude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection. // crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

Q: When is it sensible to use 'worry' instead of 'solicitude'?

The meanings of worry and solicitude largely overlap; however, worry suggests fretting over matters that may or may not be real cause for anxiety. // financial worries

solicitude

noun

sə-ˈli-sə-ˌtüd

Definition of solicitude

as in concern

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble a growing solicitude over the possible results of the criminal investigation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in carefulness

attention accompanied by protectiveness and responsibility she shows much more solicitude toward her aging parents than any of her siblings do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solicitude distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of solicitude are anxiety, care, concern, and worry. While all these words mean "a troubled or engrossed state of mind or the thing that causes this," solicitude implies great concern and connotes either thoughtful or hovering attentiveness toward another.

acted with typical maternal solicitude

When could anxiety be used to replace solicitude?

Although the words anxiety and solicitude have much in common, anxiety stresses anguished uncertainty or fear of misfortune or failure.

plagued by anxiety and self-doubt

In what contexts can care take the place of solicitude?

The words care and solicitude can be used in similar contexts, but care implies oppression of the mind weighed down by responsibility or disquieted by apprehension.

a face worn by years of care

When can concern be used instead of solicitude?

The words concern and solicitude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, concern implies a troubled state of mind because of personal interest, relation, or affection.

crimes caused concern in the neighborhood

When is it sensible to use worry instead of solicitude?

The meanings of worry and solicitude largely overlap; however, 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 solicitude At first idly, then with what appears to be solicitude, and finally with the glee of a cat cornering a mouse before killing it, Gustav pokes into Adi’s professional failures, connecting them to Tekla’s galling success. — Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 May 2025 The evocation of the boy’s impure actions, as well as the undertow of sexuality in both his parish priest’s solicitude and his father’s violence, caught the attention of the censors, who typically busied themselves outlawing pulp erotica. — Sam Sacks, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event. — Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 30 May 2024 Realistically, however, Mexico faces a tough fight in a Supreme Court that’s shown a great deal of solicitude for the gun industry — even in cases that don’t involve a federal statute that protects gun companies from liability. — Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See All Example Sentences for solicitude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solicitude

Noun

Bird has concerns, particularly around the build-up of power around technological advancements, which push the film into surprising and exciting dystopian directions.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
By that point, family members of those on board had raised concerns about dwindling food supplies and low morale.

— Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

Noun

Residents say Ethiopian federal forces retook Mekelle’s airport from Tigrayan fighters, but communications blackouts and fear of reprisals have left unclear who controls Tigray’s capital city.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
The book offers creative ways to manage fear and negativity — like pretend-flushing your mistakes down the toilet — before, during and after a high-stakes task.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

And three, sometimes four, of those many waking hours are spent in the car — bouncing from home to school to her second or third job and home again — with music at full blast to drown out the babble of anxiety, most of it financial.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
This can help decrease anxiety and increase confidence by removing the pressure of one ideal performance and shifting focus to the present moment.

— Lennon Sherburne, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxiety

Noun

The euro sank to its lowest level against the dollar since May 2025 over Spain’s snap elections added to mounting fiscal and political worries across the region.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Such strong growth is what’s allowed stocks to rally near records despite a long list of worries and challenges.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

When presented together and thought juxtapositionally, the works launch visitors onto an emotional pendulum that pivots from exhilaration to unease and distress.

— Tina M. Campt, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The survey quantifies the sense of unease and frustration many customers of these new-wave insurers feel.

— Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of unease

Browse Nearby Words

solicits

solicitude

solid

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Solicitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solicitude. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of solicitude

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes