I can see where a warrior, particularly a general, could be a worrier before the start of battle. But I would never confuse your average worrier as a warrior.
Thinking of a worrier brings to mind a person pacing up and down the floors, wringing their hands, anxious that “something” will happen (or not). Hardly the experienced fighter to my mind.
This Word Confusion pair is an heterograph.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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Warrior | Worrier |
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Part of Grammar: | |
Noun
Plural: warriors |
Noun
Plural: worriers |
[Especially in former times] A brave or experienced soldier or fighter
[As modifier] A warrior nation [Also warrior pose] Any of a number of standing poses in yoga in which the legs are held apart and the arms are stretched outwards |
Person who is in a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems |
Examples: | |
They are fearsome warriors.
Spartans were formidable warriors. When you return to downward dog after the first round, add warrior poses I and II. Ariel Sharon was both politician and warrior. |
“A revolutionary effort must be made before the worrier and the folly-doubter can throw off his shackles” (Walton).
People who suffer from stage fright tend to be worriers. Jesse is a worrier. As soon as one worry eases, he’s hunting for another. A regular worrier is Ma. She worries if we’ll be out late. She worries if we’ll get enough to eat, to sleep. She worries . . . well, you get the picture. She’s a worrier and will never change. |
Derivatives: | |
Adjective: warriorlike | Adjective: worriless Adverb: worryingly Noun: worries, worry Verb: worry, worried, worrying |
History of the Word: | |
Middle English from the Old Northern French werreior, a variant of the Old French guerreior, which is from guerreier meaning make war, which is itself from guerre meaning war. | Early 19th century, evolving from the Old English wyrgan meaning strangle. By Middle English it meant harass, cause anxiety to. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Warrior versus Worrier
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Apple Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com: warrior
Walton, Dr George Lincoln. Why Worry? 2012. EBook. Originally published 1908. <https://amzn.to/3CnwCfm> OR <http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8554>.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Kickboxing in the River by sasint is in the public domain, via Pixabay with added text.
Revised as of 21 Apr 2024
By: Kathy Davie