worsen

worsen

verb

Definition of WORSEN

1

to become worse or of less value <the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect>

Synonyms atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen

Related Words abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane; break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy; sour, spoil; lessen, lower, reduce; debilitate, undermine; droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt

Near Antonyms better, upgrade; enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen; advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Antonyms ameliorate, improve, meliorate

2

to make more severe <the harsh winter only worsened the fuel shortage>

Synonyms aggravate, complicate, worsen

Related Words amplify, deepen, intensify, magnify

Near Antonyms ameliorate, better, improve

Antonyms allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, help, mitigate, relieve