: involving, projecting, or providing for the worst possible circumstances or outcome of a given situation
a worst-case scenario

Examples of worst-case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Since then, things have gone completely off the rails and become a worst-case scenario for Dallas. Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025 Historically, the stock has decreased after earnings reports 50% of the time, with a median one-day drop of 3.5%, and a worst-case fall of 7%. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025 Trump’s advisers acknowledge their ability to avoid the litany of worst-case scenarios didn’t happen in a vacuum. Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 31 July 2025 Instead, Chicago will spend the latter half of the season fending off a worst-case scenario — handing the No. 1 pick to the best team in the league. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for worst-case

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of worst-case was in 1964

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Cite this Entry

“Worst-case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worst-case. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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