: involving, projecting, or providing for the worst possible circumstances or outcome of a given situation
a worst-case scenario

Examples of worst-case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For decades, oil market watchers have worried about the closure of the strait as a worst-case scenario. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026 Governments across Asia are preparing for worst-case energy scenarios that could include a prolonged and severe disruption to supplies, as the US and Iran remain at odds over proposals to end a conflict that has roiled global markets. Claire Jiao, Bloomberg, 25 Mar. 2026 Sony lawyer argued Cox failed to act Paul Clement, the lawyer representing the music industry, countered that Cox is manufacturing a worst-case scenario after failing to take reasonable steps to respond to repeat offenders of peer-to-peer file sharing – the most common means of pirating music. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 The bridge fund has helped stave off that worst-case scenario — for now. Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worst-case

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of worst-case was in 1964

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worst-case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worst-case. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster