help matters
idiom
: to make a situation better
—usually used in negative statements
It didn't exactly help matters when he accused her of lying!
Examples of help matters in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kissing the badge on his shirt during a 5-1 Spurs win against Chelsea in January 2002 did not help matters.
—
Simon Johnson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
No one likes paying for insurance — and mounting premiums in 2025 didn't help matters.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not help matters in that defeat.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Dawn is not equipped to date an addict in recovery, and Mark’s pursuit of the limelight doesn’t help matters either; her need for attention turns increasingly self-destructive.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for help matters
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Simon Johnson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
No one likes paying for insurance — and mounting premiums in 2025 didn't help matters.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not help matters in that defeat.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Dawn is not equipped to date an addict in recovery, and Mark’s pursuit of the limelight doesn’t help matters either; her need for attention turns increasingly self-destructive.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for help matters
Cite this Entry
“Help matters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/help%20matters. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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