worsen

verb

wors·​en ˈwər-sᵊn 

worsened; worsening

ˈwərs-niŋ, 

ˈwər-sᵊn-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to make worse

intransitive verb

: to become worse

the weather began to worsen

Synonyms of worsen

• deteriorate
• crumble
• descend
• decline

Examples of worsen in a Sentence

Spending more money is only going to worsen the problem.

the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, Gjoni says worsening insulin resistance and declining metabolic health can appear in bloodwork years before a diabetes diagnosis. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 July 2026

Healthcare staffing challenges will likely worsen, according to a 2025 US Health Resources and Services Administration projection, with the agency predicting a shortage of 70,610 primary care doctors by 2038. — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Five of six different brain tests showed diranersen recipients’ memory and other cognitive abilities still worsened but more slowly than those given dummy shots, Mummery said. — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 14 July 2026

The flight cancellations, the daily blackouts and a worsening humanitarian crisis have all caused tourism to tank, with only 359,000 international arrivals recorded between January and May this year, a 58% contraction from the same period in 2025. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for worsen

• person
• businessperson
• chairperson
• layperson
• salesperson

Kids Definition

worsen

verb

wors·​en ˈwərs-ᵊn 

worsened; worsening ˈwərs-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become worse

the weather worsened