fraught with worry

USAGE SUMMARY

'fraught with worry' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation where someone is experiencing or expecting a lot of anxiety or concern. For example: His journey home was fraught with worry as he was running late and feared he would miss his flight.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The experience of walking through the woods is fraught with worry.

The New York Times

When Pia Pearce returned the call two hours later, her voice was fraught with worry.

The New York Times - Sports

"On a personal note, my family and I are fraught with worry for our son.

The Guardian

But some voters are fraught with worry – some of the pre-primary polls indicated that a bare majority of voters in Ohio overall, if not more, fear that the economy will stay the same, not get better or worse.

The New York Times

Pivoting from a previous work life to an uncertain, unstructured future is not always easy and can be fraught with worry.

HuffPost

Figuring out which fish is safe to eat -- and how often you should eat fish -- has become fraught with worry, mainly due to concerns about mercury content.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

If you are panicked, worried, or fraught with trouble, this will begin to affect every decision that you make.

WikiHow

"Expect a 4-1 4-1 fraughton fraught with concern".

The Guardian - Sport

Several phone calls fraught with irritation and worry followed before Mr. Bill's undisclosed location was disclosed.

Huffington Post

It is not precisely the same as the milder troubling, much as the verb worrying is not fraught with as much anxiety as the adjective worrisome.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the standoff is still fraught with danger and American officials are still deeply worried by the mobilization along the tense frontier.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fraught with worry" to describe situations or periods characterized by significant anxiety and concern, especially when the source of worry is ongoing or anticipated. For example, "The negotiation process was fraught with worry due to the high stakes involved."

Common error

Avoid using "fraught with worry" in trivial situations. This phrase carries a strong connotation of deep anxiety and should be reserved for scenarios where the level of concern is genuinely significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fraught with worry" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe a state or situation characterized by significant anxiety and concern. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fraught with worry" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a situation or state filled with significant anxiety and concern. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is appropriate in written English. While not extremely common, occurring with "Uncommon" frequency, the phrase appears primarily in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, remember that it implies a high level of anxiety, making it unsuitable for trivial situations. Consider alternatives like "filled with anxiety" or "anxious" if the level of concern is less intense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worried

A common and easily understood synonym for feeling concern.

anxious

A simpler, more direct way to express worry.

filled with anxiety

Emphasizes the presence of anxiety, focusing on the emotional state.

concerned

A more formal and slightly less intense way to express worry.

apprehensive

Highlights a feeling of anxiety about a possible future event.

ridden with concern

Indicates a state heavily influenced by worry and unease.

beset by anxiety

Highlights the persistent and troubling nature of anxiety.

teeming with apprehension

Suggests a situation overflowing with a sense of impending unease.

heavy with trepidation

Conveys a sense of dread or fear about a future event.

laden with misgivings

Implies a burden of doubt and uncertainty about something.

FAQs

How can I use "fraught with worry" in a sentence?

Use "fraught with worry" to describe a situation or state filled with anxiety and concern. For example, "Her journey was fraught with worry about the impending storm".

What are some alternatives to "fraught with worry"?

You can use alternatives like "filled with anxiety", "beset by anxiety", or simply "anxious" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "fraught with worry"?

It's appropriate when describing situations or periods characterized by significant and ongoing anxiety, especially when there are specific reasons for the worry.

What's the difference between "fraught with worry" and "worried"?

"Worried" is a general term for feeling concern, while "fraught with worry" implies a situation or state is filled or burdened with a high degree of anxiety. "Fraught with worry" suggests a more intense and pervasive level of concern.