worrying

When used as an adjective, this word describes a situation or piece of news that triggers alarm or concern in others. It is often used in formal reports or news contexts to signal a negative trend, such as "worrying statistics" or "a worrying development."

As a noun, it refers to the internal psychological process of ruminating on problems. In this sense, it is an uncountable gerund, describing a state of mind or a habit rather than a discrete event. It differs from "worry" (the noun) in that "worrying" emphasizes the ongoing action or the habit of dwelling on a problem.