worse

adjective

Definition of worsenext
as in worst

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of worse While the future is looking better, right now things are still getting worse. — WIRED, 24 Jan. 2023 Law enforcement sources also believe Tran was having unspecified emotional problems that had been getting worse in the weeks before the shooting. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2023 And new figures show that rather than improving, the problem has been getting worse. — Jon Marcus, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Jan. 2023 Essentially those factors compound the climate change factors which are also getting worse. — Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for worse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worse
  1. worst
  2. lesser
  3. inferior
  4. normal
Adjective
  • But all of that would’ve been forgiven if Golden State’s offense didn’t cool down at the worst possible time.
    — C.J. Holmes, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2023
  • Continue below to see the top 10 best and worst cities for football fans in 2023.
    — Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2023
Definition of worst
Adjective
  • Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.
    — Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.
    — Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023
Definition of lesser
Adjective
  • Distillers pushed for federal oversight to distinguish authentic whiskey from inferior products.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Brain MRIs also found an increase in the surface area of the inferior frontal gyrus in the MIND diet group.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Definition of inferior
Adjective
  • This figure has already exceeded the European Commission's estimate for annual wildfire losses across the entire European Union in a normal year.
    — , CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Since military prototypes often undergo multiple design revisions, such modifications are considered a normal part of the aircraft development process.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of normal

Browse Nearby Words

worrywarts
worse
worsen
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Cite this Entry

“Worse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worse. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on worse

Nglish: Translation of worse for Spanish Speakers

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