worst-case

adjective

ˈwərst-ˈkās 

: 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

As students returned to campuses earlier this week to begin a new school year, the district’s worst-case scenario has not come to pass, although its apparent financial reprieve remains fragile. — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

Unanswered emails can make people feel ignored or disrespected, or jump to worrying or envisioning worst-case scenarios, such as being on the brink of getting laid off or fired. — Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

In a worst-case scenario, Lala could pour 25 inches of rain onto the Big Island, the center said. — Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Treasury officials had presented worst-case scenario modeling to Burnham. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for worst-case

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase