: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Eagles caught a glimpse of a worst-case scenario for their secondary. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Then if your tastes skew toward current events, there’s a conspiratorial bent to Ron’s quest that, in a worst-case scenario, could end up with the father of two on a government watch list. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025 Up to 2 inches of rain is possible, but in a worst-case scenario, up to 6 inches could fall along portions of the southeastern North Carolina coast. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025 While Rachel going home was a worst-case scenario for both the people who make and watch Big Brother, Grodner notes that the stakes are what make the show. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2025.

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