worsen

[ˈwɔːsn̩]

worsen Definition

• 1. to become or make something become worse
• 2. to deteriorate

Using worsen: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "worsen" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The situation is worsening every day.

• Example

  The weather is expected to worsen over the weekend.

• Example

  The company's financial situation has worsened in recent years.

worsen Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for worsen

• deteriorate
• degenerate
• sink
• decline

Antonyms for worsen

• improve
• ameliorate
• enhance

Phrases with worsen

• make matters worse

  to make a bad situation even worse

  Example

  I lost my job, and to make matters worse, my car broke down on the way home.

• go from bad to worse

  to change from a bad situation to an even worse one

  Example

  After losing his job, things went from bad to worse when he was evicted from his apartment.

• worsen the situation

  to make a bad situation even worse

  Example

  His angry outburst only worsened the situation.

Origins of worsen

from Old English 'wyrsian', meaning 'to become worse'

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Summary: worsen in Brief

'Worsen' [ˈwɔːsn̩] means to make something become worse or deteriorate. It is often used to describe situations that are getting progressively worse, as in 'The situation is worsening every day.' 'Worsen' can also be used in phrases like 'make matters worse' and 'go from bad to worse,' both of which indicate a situation becoming even more difficult.