What it means
A worrywart is the one who frets about everything, the friend who's already planning for the disaster that probably won't happen, who texts to check you got home safe and worries the picnic will be rained out three days early. It comes from a caring place, even if all that fretting is exhausting to be around. Said with affection and a small sigh.
Usage examples
"My mum's a total worrywart, she calls twice if I'm ten minutes late replying."
"Stop being such a worrywart, the flight's not for another six hours."
Where it comes from
From an old American comic strip featuring a character called Worry Wart, the wart here just a comic flourish. It became the fond name for a chronic worrier.
Editors of this term
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