worse off
adjective
1
: having less money and possessions : less wealthy
He was worse off financially than he was before.
2
: in a worse position
If you quit school, you will be worse off.
Examples of worse off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In fact, the Nexford University report highlights that many are actually worse off.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Yet, the storm paradoxically left the region’s water supplies worse off in its wake.
—Alejandro N. Flores, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
Our state and nation are much worse off for that.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
After 19 matches, Liverpool are 13 points worse off than at the same stage a year ago.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Many Americans are heading into 2026 worse off, and their financial game plans have shifted.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Dams across the United States are in dire need of repairs, and the critical infrastructure may be even worse off than engineers anticipated.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Dec. 2025
When Stefon Diggs left for the New England Patriots, the unit was even worse off.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Public Policy Institute of California polls show more than one-third of residents have thought about leaving because of the high cost of living and that more than 70% think that the children of present residents will be worse off financially than their parents.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
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Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Yet, the storm paradoxically left the region’s water supplies worse off in its wake.
—Alejandro N. Flores, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
Our state and nation are much worse off for that.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
After 19 matches, Liverpool are 13 points worse off than at the same stage a year ago.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Many Americans are heading into 2026 worse off, and their financial game plans have shifted.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Dams across the United States are in dire need of repairs, and the critical infrastructure may be even worse off than engineers anticipated.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Dec. 2025
When Stefon Diggs left for the New England Patriots, the unit was even worse off.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Public Policy Institute of California polls show more than one-third of residents have thought about leaving because of the high cost of living and that more than 70% think that the children of present residents will be worse off financially than their parents.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Worse off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worse%20off. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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