highly worried

USAGE SUMMARY

'highly worried' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something or someone that is feeling very anxious or worried. Example sentence: My mother was highly worried about the outcome of my test.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These six segments formed a continuum, from a segment of people who were highly worried, involved and supportive of policy responses (18%), to a segment of people who were completely unconcerned and strongly opposed to policy responses (7%).

Plosone

ED workers frequently have to deal with violent patients who are under the effect of illness, pain, or intoxicated and to encounter visitors who are usually highly worried about their patients [ 4].

Human Resources for Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The environment minister, Marina Silva, called the new data "highly worrying" and promised "emergency action," although no specific proposals were offered.

The New York Times

She protested against battery birds and thought "wonderful men" being given sandwiches, rather than meat and two veg, was highly worrying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We have the feeling that, even within a highly worrying economic situation, this country has recovered something that we had lived – and lost – at the time of the transition after Franco: hope!

The Guardian

Because he was the Qaeda figure most directly involved in the reconnaissance, the fact that Mr. Hindi was at large was seen as highly worrying to American officials last weekend, after the discovery of computer files in Pakistan first provided the Bush administration with information about the scope and sophistication of the surveillance.

The New York Times

Digging below the headline number for overall economic expansion the picture in Germany is highly worrying: German exports fell by 5.8% from July to August while industrial production saw its biggest decline since 2009 over the same period, contracting by 4.8%.

The Guardian - Business

In a world defined by trends, we've been beset by a highly worrying one: There is an undeniable lack of IPOs.

TechCrunch

Since anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, these figures are highly worrying.

Vice

I was extremely worried.

BMC Infectious Diseases

I highly recommend worrying.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly worried" to emphasize a significant level of anxiety or concern, especially when you want to convey that someone's worry is impacting their behavior or decisions. Consider stronger synonyms if the situation warrants even greater emotional intensity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "highly worried" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "really worried" or "very anxious" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly worried" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of intense anxiety or concern. It indicates a heightened emotional state.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly worried" is a grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to describe a state of significant anxiety or concern. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. While the phrase is not very common, it is mostly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When writing, consider if a simpler or more common alternative, such as "extremely anxious" or "deeply concerned", might be more appropriate depending on the formality and intended audience. Overusing "highly worried" might sound unnatural in informal conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extremely anxious

Emphasizes a high level of anxiety, similar to being "highly worried".

Deeply concerned

Indicates a profound level of worry and care.

Very apprehensive

Implies a feeling of dread or unease about a future event.

Seriously troubled

Suggests that someone is disturbed and burdened by a situation.

Gravely worried

Highlights the seriousness and intensity of the worry.

Incredibly stressed

Focuses on the stress and pressure caused by the worry.

Really bothered

Suggests that something is causing significant irritation or concern.

Quite uneasy

Implies a lack of comfort and a sense of disquiet.

Considerably concerned

Highlights the extent and degree of concern.

Noticeably anxious

Indicates that someone's anxiety is apparent to others.

FAQs

How can I use "highly worried" in a sentence?

You can use "highly worried" to describe someone experiencing a significant level of anxiety. For example, "She was "highly worried" about the outcome of the surgery."

What are some alternatives to saying "highly worried"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "deeply concerned", "extremely anxious", or "gravely worried" as alternatives to "highly worried".

Is it better to say "highly worried" or "very worried"?

While both are grammatically correct, "highly worried" conveys a more intense level of concern than "very worried". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "highly worried"?

"Highly worried" is suitable in situations where you want to emphasize the significant anxiety or concern someone is experiencing, such as in formal reports, news articles, or academic papers.