adding to their worries

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adding to their worries" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations or events that increase someone's concerns or anxieties. Example: "The unexpected news about the layoffs is adding to their worries about job security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Young people in Britain are having a hard time: on top of news about soaring university fees and ever increasing youth unemployment, students' future employers are now adding to their worries.

The Guardian

Adding to their worries was a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Pacific Gas and Electric.

The New York Times

Adding to their worries, many economists argue that a bout of modest inflation would be the least painful way to ease the financial hangover.The rich world's build-up of debt may also cause changes in countries' relative creditworthiness.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Following diagnosis some participants felt they received insufficient information about arrhythmias, adding to their worry.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The botched rollout of the federal government's health exchange, HealthCare.gov, added to their worries.

The Washington Post

I did not want to add to their worries by telling them I was not coping at my new school.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To add to their worries, far away in East Asia the conflict with China over the selling of opium (the main British export there) was reaching a climax.

The New York Times - Books

Even if the borrowing is legally permissible, Wall Street analysts say it would add to their worries about New Jersey's troubled finances.

The New York Times

To add to their worries, the teenage striker was booked for a fifth time this season - "It looked like a free-kick for us rather than them," bemoaned Moyes - and will now serve a further one-match ban on top of the three-game suspension earned for last month's red card at Birmingham City.

The Guardian - Sport

But federal officials say the report, conducted by America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest food bank network, adds to their worries that such stringency may be one reason that 12 million people who need the benefits, and are eligible, are not getting them.

The New York Times

Chelsea had let a two-goal lead slip on Wednesday as they drew against Southampton and, when Demba Ba missed an excellent chance for them late on, it only added to their worries of a repeat here.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adding to their worries", ensure the context clearly indicates what the existing worries are. This provides clarity and emphasizes the cumulative effect of the new stressor.

Common error

Avoid using "adding to their worries" when the primary source of worry is unclear or undefined. Always specify what is causing the initial concern to ensure the phrase's impact is fully realized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding to their worries" functions as a verbal phrase that introduces or emphasizes a new element contributing to existing anxieties. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to highlight the accumulation of concerns.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Lifestyle

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adding to their worries" is a correct and usable expression that describes the act of intensifying existing anxieties or concerns. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used in various contexts, most commonly in news and media, science, and lifestyle content. While grammatically sound and widely understood, more formal alternatives like "compounding their anxieties" might be preferable in academic or professional settings. Remember to clearly define the existing worries to maximize the phrase's impact and avoid ambiguity. Though it isn't the most common phrase, it provides a clear way to express increasing concerns in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intensifying their worries

Directly indicates a stronger feeling of worry, similar to the original phrase.

compounding their anxieties

Focuses on intensifying existing anxieties, suggesting a heavier burden.

exacerbating their fears

Highlights the worsening of fears, implying a more emotional response.

worsening their concerns

Focuses on making existing concerns more severe, with a slightly negative tone.

heightening their concerns

Emphasizes the intensification of concerns, suitable for formal contexts.

magnifying their anxieties

Implies that anxieties are being made larger or more significant.

increasing their stress

Directly points to a rise in stress levels, applicable in various situations.

fuelling their unease

Suggests that something is actively making them more uneasy.

aggravating their apprehensions

Highlights the worsening of apprehensions, focusing on anticipation of negative outcomes.

building upon their fears

Suggests that new fears are developing on top of existing ones.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "adding to their worries" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "compounding their anxieties" or "exacerbating their fears"/s/exacerbating+their+fears. These alternatives provide a more elevated and professional feel.

Is it appropriate to use "adding to their worries" in academic writing?

While acceptable, "adding to their worries" might be considered less formal for academic writing. Alternatives like "heightening their concerns"/s/heightening+their+concerns or "intensifying their anxieties"/s/intensifying+their+anxieties could be more suitable depending on the context.

What's a simpler way to say "adding to their worries"?

Simpler alternatives include "increasing their stress"/s/increasing+their+stress or "worsening their concerns"/s/worsening+their+concerns. These options are more direct and easier to understand.

How does "adding to their worries" differ from "alleviating their worries"?

"Adding to their worries" indicates an increase in anxiety or concern, while "alleviating their worries" means reducing or easing those same feelings. They are antonyms with opposite effects.