worried competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worried competition" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a competitive situation where one party is anxious or concerned about their rivals, but the phrasing is awkward. Example: "The startup faced worried competition as they launched their innovative product, fearing it would disrupt the market."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But here's a bit of cheery news for the worried competition: the new Kia Sorento isn't perfect.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

However, whereas some electronic markets will be too puny to live, others have such powerful parents that they worry competition regulators.

The Economist

We're told don't worry, competition will save us.

Huffington Post

The company isn't worried about competition, so thinking of Plus as a Facebook competitor is a mistake.

TechCrunch

"They're worried about competition.

The New York Times

Some people worried about competition.

The New Yorker

Some parts of the government are worried about competition.

The New York Times

The more established ones are also worried about competition from another direction.

The Economist

Anthony Wood, the chief executive of Roku, said he was not worried about competition from Apple.

The New York Times - Tech

Studios also worried about competition from the London Olympics and poor weather in parts of the country.

The New York Times

Such regulations, which have grown precipitously in recent decades, are catnip to incumbent businesses worried about competition.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer and more common phrases like "concerned about competition" or "fearing competition" to ensure your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "worried" directly before "competition" as it creates an unusual pairing. Instead, clarify who is worried by using a structure like "investors are worried about competition".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worried competition" functions as an adjective-noun combination, attempting to describe the nature of competition. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's not a standard or clear way to express concern about competition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worried competition" is an uncommon and grammatically awkward expression to convey concern about competitive forces. As Ludwig AI reports, it's not considered a standard or clear way to express concern about competition. While understandable, it's best to opt for clearer alternatives such as "concerned about competition", "fearing competition", or "anxious about competition" to improve clarity and ensure your message is easily understood. Usage primarily appears in news and media, but its infrequency suggests avoiding it in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concerned about competition

This alternative replaces the single adjective "worried" with a more explicit phrase "concerned about", enhancing clarity.

anxious about competition

This alternative substitutes "worried" with "anxious", suggesting a heightened state of unease regarding competition.

fearing competition

This alternative uses the verb "fearing" to express worry as a direct anticipation of negative consequences from competition.

threatened by competition

This alternative uses "threatened" to indicate that competition is perceived as a danger, changing the nuance from worry to potential harm.

vulnerable to competition

This phrase suggests a weakness that makes one susceptible to negative impacts from competition.

apprehensive about competition

Replaces "worried" with "apprehensive", indicating a more formal and nuanced sense of unease.

insecure about competition

This alternative uses "insecure" to highlight a lack of confidence in facing competition.

competition is a concern

This restructures the phrase to emphasize competition as the subject of concern, rather than describing a state of worry.

competition causes anxiety

This highlights the effect of competition as a cause of anxiety, focusing on the emotional impact.

competition is alarming

This expresses that competition is causing concern, implying a signal to pay attention to it.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "worried competition"?

Consider using phrases like "concerned about competition", "anxious about competition", or "fearing competition" for improved clarity.

Is "worried competition" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "worried competition" is not considered standard English. It's better to use a phrase that clearly indicates who or what is worried about the competition.

How can I use the word "worried" in a sentence about competition?

You could say, "Investors are worried about the increasing competition in the tech industry" or "The company is worried about competition from overseas markets".

What does it mean when someone says they are "worried about competition"?

It means they are concerned or anxious about the potential negative effects that competition may have on their business, market share, or overall success.