profound worry

USAGE SUMMARY

"profound worry" is an appropriate phrase that can be used in written English.
Example: She felt a profound worry about her future as she considered her options.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

What might be their most profound worry?

The New York Times

This is a place, on today's evidence, where the most profound worry in life is whether a tray of mini-mousses will hold firm on an unseasonably hot day.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Happiness is not something you can turn on in the midst of heart ache, profound worry or fear but at least you have the knowledge, the facts and the life experience to know what makes you happy and then you can create it, work at it and have it in your life always.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Steven has been a successful executive in the tech industry and recently began working with a start up company, at which point he experienced a major spike in his longstanding anxiety, obsessional work style, and profound worries about his health.

Harvard Business Review

Such more or less uncomfortable western responses are based ultimately on their profound worries about the potential impacts China's development will exert on the political and economic patterns of the present-day world.

Huffington Post

But if in displacing infanticide it does some good, selective abortion still represents discrimination against girls of a particularly profound sort.This worries the Chinese: the theme of discrimination dominated a conference held in September by Peng Peiyun, head of the state Family Planning Commission, to ruminate on the imbalance.

The Economist

The influence of the more recent "Star Wars" installments is more profound, and it worries me.

The New York Times - Magazine

If the next Ukip leader possesses the seriousness that Mr Farage ultimately lacked, the consequences could be profound and deeply worrying.

The Guardian - Opinion

In an hourlong speech that touched on many policies outside his purview, like paid maternity leave and gun control, the secretary said the persistent achievement gap between white and minority students is one of the nation's profound problems, and worried that a "growing digital divide" was widening the gulf.

The New York Times

"It's not that their worries were more profound, but they are just worrying more often about more things," says Penney.

BBC

For the last few weeks, we've been awash in worries about profound problems in foreign affairs, but now we're going domestic again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "profound worry" to describe a deep and significant level of concern, often related to important or impactful situations.

Common error

Avoid using "profound worry" to describe minor or everyday concerns; reserve it for situations that genuinely involve deep and significant anxiety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profound worry" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "profound" modifies the noun "worry", intensifying its meaning. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "profound worry" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express deep and significant concern. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English. While relatively rare, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, as well as in formal business and scientific discussions. When using this phrase, it is important to reserve it for situations that genuinely warrant a strong expression of anxiety, differentiating it from more casual concerns. Related phrases, such as "deep concern" or "intense anxiety", can offer alternative ways to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deep concern

Focuses on the emotional depth of the concern rather than the intellectual aspect of worry.

intense anxiety

Highlights the high level of anxiety associated with the situation.

grave apprehension

Emphasizes a serious feeling of unease about something that might happen.

serious disquiet

Indicates a notable lack of peace or tranquility due to worry.

extreme uneasiness

Shows a very high degree of discomfort or anxiety.

significant distress

Highlights the level of suffering or pain caused by the worry.

acute concern

Emphasizes the sharp and immediate nature of the worry.

palpable anxiety

Suggests the anxiety is so strong it can almost be felt by others.

deep seated anxiety

Emphasizes that the anxiety is strongly established.

intense preoccupation

Highlights how much the mind is focused on the cause of worry.

FAQs

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

You can use "profound worry" to describe a deep and significant level of concern. For example: "She felt a "profound worry" about the future of the company".

What are some alternatives to "profound worry"?

Alternatives to "profound worry" include "deep concern", "intense anxiety", and "grave apprehension", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "profound worry" over "slight concern"?

"Profound worry" is suitable when describing deep, significant anxiety related to substantial matters, while "slight concern" is better for minor issues.

What's the difference between "profound worry" and "profound unease"?

"Profound worry" typically implies concern about a specific potential outcome, while "profound unease" suggests a more general feeling of discomfort or anxiety without a clear cause.