Worries before small stroke (6)
I believe the answer is:
caress
'stroke' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'worries before small' is the wordplay.
'worries' becomes 'cares' (I've seen this in another clue).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'cares'+'s'='CARESS'
(Other definitions for caress that I've seen before include "Stoke affectionately" , "Stroke lovingly" , "Gentle stroke" , "Gentle affectionate stroking" , "Embrace with affection" .)