greatest worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "greatest worry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the most significant concern or fear someone has regarding a situation or topic. Example: "Her greatest worry is that she won't be able to find a job after graduation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was far from his greatest worry.

The New York Times

Children's parties are the greatest worry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Job instability is my greatest worry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The greatest worry is the unknown".

The New York Times

My greatest worry is the responsibility.

The Guardian

"That may be my greatest worry," Stavins said.

Harvard University

The greatest worry is licensed water for businesses.

Independent

The greatest worry is for those still at sea.

The Economist

But her greatest worry was also her son.

The Washington Post

The greatest worry is that today's dark economic picture may become darker yet.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

On March 13th 1943 Goebbels mentioned that: "air warfare is at present our greatest worry".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "greatest worry", ensure it accurately reflects the most significant concern among several others. Avoid using it for minor anxieties.

Common error

Avoid using "greatest worry" for trivial matters. This phrase should be reserved for significant anxieties to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greatest worry" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies the most significant concern or fear someone has. Ludwig AI's examples confirm its use in various contexts to highlight primary anxieties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

19%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "greatest worry" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote the most significant concern or fear. Ludwig AI's analysis, drawing from a multitude of examples, reveals its prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and formal settings. Its grammatical function is primarily as a noun phrase, serving to emphasize the importance of a particular anxiety. While generally neutral in register, its formality can increase based on context. Common alternatives include "biggest concern" and "primary fear". A key writing tip is to reserve "greatest worry" for genuinely significant anxieties to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biggest concern

Replaces "worry" with "concern" emphasizing the importance of the issue.

main apprehension

Substitutes "worry" with "apprehension", highlighting a sense of anxiety or unease.

primary fear

Replaces "worry" with "fear", focusing on the emotional aspect of the concern.

chief anxiety

Uses "anxiety" instead of "worry", stressing the mental distress caused by the concern.

principal concern

Emphasizes the importance of the concern by using "principal".

overriding preoccupation

Highlights that the worry is consuming or dominant in one's thoughts.

major source of anxiety

Focuses on the origin of anxiety, rather than the worry itself.

most pressing issue

Shifts the focus to the urgency and importance of the problem.

foremost source of concern

Emphasizes that the worry is at the front of mind.

biggest headache

Uses a more informal term to describe the primary worry, suggesting it's bothersome.

FAQs

How can I use "greatest worry" in a sentence?

You can use "greatest worry" to express the most significant concern or fear. For example, "His "greatest worry" was that he would fail the exam."

What are some alternatives to "greatest worry"?

You can use alternatives like "biggest concern", "main apprehension", or "primary fear depending on the context."

Is it grammatically correct to say "greatest worry"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "greatest worry" is a common and accepted way to express the most significant concern.

What is the difference between "greatest worry" and "big worry"?

"Greatest worry" implies a higher level of significance and formality compared to "big worry", which is more casual.