worsen

verb

wors·​en ˈwər-sᵊn How to pronounce worsen (audio)
worsened; worsening
ˈwərs-niŋ,
ˈwər-sᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce worsen (audio)

intransitive verb

: to become worse
the weather began to worsen

Examples of worsen in a Sentence

Spending more money is only going to worsen the problem. the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect
Recent Examples on the Web But in some ways, her exploitation has only worsened in the decades since her passing. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 Recent data from the CDC paints a concerning picture: While overall HIV infections among Black women have remained stable, the disparity in new HIV infections persists and, in some cases, worsens. Larada Lee, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 Earlier in the day, the personal attacks also worsened. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 But the statewide unemployment rate worsened to 5.2%, up from 5.1% in December. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Tyla has canceled her upcoming North American tour, citing a longstanding injury that has worsened over time. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Political divides could worsen teens' stress about 'fitting in' Schumacher responded to a social media post by the Journal Sentinel seeking advice from students in Wisconsin about improving divisiveness over politics. Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024 The issue is expected to worsen with climate change, as rising temperatures accelerate the breakdown of plastic products. Elaine Chen, STAT, 6 Mar. 2024 Stephens and sympathetic letter-writers don’t realize that each such letter lends support to Hamas, extending rather than shortening the invasion, tending to worsen rather than alleviate conditions in Gaza. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'worsen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of worsen was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near worsen

Cite this Entry

“Worsen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worsen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

worsen

verb
wors·​en ˈwərs-ᵊn How to pronounce worsen (audio)
worsened; worsening ˈwərs-niŋ How to pronounce worsen (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become worse
the weather worsened

More from Merriam-Webster on worsen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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