pressing worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pressing worry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a concern or anxiety that feels urgent or immediate. Example: "Her pressing worry about the upcoming exam kept her up all night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Spain and its banks are the euro zone's most pressing worry now.

The New York Times

(Other big banks began reporting on July 15th).A more pressing worry for Goldman is the loss of clients if the public storm over its conduct rumbles on.

The Economist

But the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the reliance on Middle East imports and the threat of global warming are reminders that oil is also a pressing worry.

The New York Times

His most pressing worry is Chrysler's high borrowing costs, which turned its trading profit of $565m for the first nine months of this year into a net loss of $453m.

The Economist

For now FPT's most pressing worry isn't future mobile competition or lagging computer sales–it's the gravity-defying share price.

Forbes

A White House spokesman declined to comment on the specific conversation, but noted that Libya was a pressing worry discussed at the summit.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It looks to be a strange subject for Mr Gandhi to make his own, when voters face a lot of other pressing worries.

The Economist

The most popular singer in New York State right now, sometimes known as "Kristen," will likely be appearing in court soon, but she has other pressing worries, especially with that new Usher album about to drop: Ashley Alexandra Dupré uses "dated slang".

The New Yorker

By Sasha Frere-Jones August 12, 2008 The most popular singer in New York State right now, sometimes known as "Kristen," will likely be appearing in court soon, but she has other pressing worries, especially with that new Usher album about to drop: Ashley Alexandra Dupré uses "dated slang".

The New Yorker

Between our hectic schedules, the need to earn a living and all the other pressing worries demanding attention, doing an activity with no end goal purely for fun easily falls down our list of priorities.

Huffington Post

For family carers, a pressing concern about the person's vulnerability to exploitation exists, along with a worry that they are being perceived as exploitative.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pressing worry", ensure that the context clearly establishes the urgency or importance of the concern. This will help to emphasize the need for attention or action.

Common error

Avoid using "pressing worry" in casual conversation or informal writing where a simpler, more direct expression of concern would be more appropriate. Overuse can make your language sound unnatural or overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pressing worry" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "pressing" modifies the noun "worry". It describes a specific type of worry that is characterized by its urgency and need for immediate attention. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pressing worry" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a concern that demands immediate attention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for neutral to professional contexts, particularly in news and media, and serves to emphasize the urgency of a particular issue. While alternatives like "urgent concern" or "immediate anxiety" exist, "pressing worry" effectively conveys the need for prompt action. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes the importance of the concern to avoid sounding overly dramatic. The phrase exhibits 'Common' frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

urgent concern

Replaces "worry" with "concern", emphasizing the importance and need for immediate action.

immediate anxiety

Substitutes "worry" with "anxiety", highlighting the feeling of unease and apprehension.

critical issue

Shifts the focus from worry to the issue itself, emphasizing its importance and urgency.

paramount concern

Replaces "pressing" with "paramount", indicating a top-priority concern.

burning question

Uses a more figurative expression to describe a worry that demands an answer or resolution.

significant apprehension

Emphasizes the feeling of anxiety with a more formal tone.

grave concern

Highlights the seriousness and potential negative consequences of the worry.

serious preoccupation

Suggests that the worry is dominating someone's thoughts and attention.

major source of concern

Indicates that the worry is a significant cause of anxiety or unease.

top priority

Focuses on the need to address the worry before other issues.

FAQs

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

You can use "pressing worry" to describe a concern that is urgent or needs immediate attention. For example: "The company's most pressing worry is the declining sales figures."

What are some alternatives to "pressing worry"?

Some alternatives include "urgent concern", "immediate anxiety", or "critical issue". Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the original phrase. See also "urgent concern".

Is "pressing worry" formal or informal?

"Pressing worry" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts such as news reports, business communications, and academic writing. Using alternative phrases like "grave concern" could increase formality.

What makes a worry "pressing"?

A "pressing" worry is one that requires immediate attention due to its potential impact or consequences. It implies a sense of urgency and importance that cannot be ignored.