at worst

phrase

: under the worst circumstances

Examples of at worst in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This ongoing divide is a recipe for frustration at best and unthinkable defeat at worst. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil have the attackers for it, but their midfield and defence were at best meandering, at worst anaemic. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Historically, Western norms during the 19th and 20th centuries held that to not eat meat is odd at best, and suspicious at worst. — David Rooney, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

Because the midsummer sun will give you one heck of a shorts tan line at best, a scorcher of a burn at worst. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for at worst

• accursed
• amerced
• cloudburst
• coerced
• conversed
• disbursed
• dispersed
• headfirst
• immersed
• outburst
• rehearsed
• reversed