: causing concern or worry : creating reason for concern : troubling
found the latest reports very concerning
"It's extremely concerning that drivers still choose to give their attention to things other than the road when they're behind the wheel," said [Texas Department of Transportation] Executive Director James Bass.—
The Nueces County Record Star
The Nueces County Record Star… carbapenems should not be administered to patients with positive penicillin skin test results or a concerning history of a type I allergic response to penicillin.—Alan R. Salkind et al.
Alan R. Salkind et al.
concerningly
adverb
Of course, South Carolina roads are also concerningly dangerous for sober drivers. In 2015, the state ranked 7th for traffic deaths overall …
—The Post & Courier [Charleston, South Carolina]
The Post & Courier [Charleston, South Carolina]
"The waivers have driven destruction in Native American burial sites. They have killed thousands of species and fragmented habitat. Most concerningly, there is zero accountability or consequence for these outcomes."
—Gloria Smith
Gloria Smith
Examples of concerning in a Sentence
Preposition
we had a meeting with the principal today concerning the new policy on student-run organizations
Recent Examples on the Web
Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
That doesn’t let Cease (1-4, 4.66) off the hook or make his lack of dominance any less concerning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
And more concerning, 52 percent of consumers have admitted to engaging in return fraud at least once, ranging from wardrobing to false claims about delivery.
—Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 29 May 2025
Measles, once considered eliminated in the United States, is making a concerning comeback (often due to gaps in vaccination) with over 1,000 cases reported nationwide in 2025—the highest in nearly 25 years.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for concerning
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Adjective
But even more concerning is what the slur’s return represents, Massanari said.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
That doesn’t let Cease (1-4, 4.66) off the hook or make his lack of dominance any less concerning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2025
And more concerning, 52 percent of consumers have admitted to engaging in return fraud at least once, ranging from wardrobing to false claims about delivery.
—Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 29 May 2025
Measles, once considered eliminated in the United States, is making a concerning comeback (often due to gaps in vaccination) with over 1,000 cases reported nationwide in 2025—the highest in nearly 25 years.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for concerning
Cite this Entry
“Concerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concerning. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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