WORSEN Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

worsen

verb

ˈwər-sᵊn

Definition of worsen

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to aggravate

to make more severe the harsh winter only worsened the fuel shortage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 worsen Katz advised Platner to drop out of the general election before the controversies could worsen for him. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026 What emerges is a worsening crisis as pensions consume an ever-rising share of funding, but with some significant variation across the country. — Gregory Kearney, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026 The loss of immigrant workers worsens the staffing crisis and increases the workload on existing employees. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2026 See a dermatologist if hair shedding lasts more than six to eight weeks, worsens suddenly, becomes patchy, or does not improve. — Sherri Gordon, Health, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for worsen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsen

Verb

Zelenskyy said their relationship had deteriorated so badly that the two could no longer work together, but provided little additional explanation for removing Fedorov.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
In the ensuing decades after District 33 absorbed McAuley, the McAuley building deteriorated, with no significant maintenance done to it and no use other than for records and equipment storage.

— Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Verb

Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can cause shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness or fatigue and aggravate heart and lung diseases and other chronic health issues.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
These dangers are aggravated by the widespread use of methamphetamine.

— Josh Katz, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of aggravate

Verb

Six months later, the longtime Sacramento Executive Airport institution remains closed after crews uncovered crumbling concrete, corroded rebar, asbestos and mold.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
But cliffs tend to crumble slowly over time, punctuated with a sudden collapse.

— Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

That’s after pragmatists inside Iran privately admitted that the initial naval blockade had crushed the economy, with the blockade’s resumption reportedly deepening a rift between pragmatists and hard-liners who want to fight more aggressively.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 July 2026
As May’s troubles deepened last fall and winter, Elyse prepared for the day her daughter would turn 18.

— Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026

Definition of deepen

Verb

Now, an intensifying war has again closed off significant access to Persian Gulf oil, reinjecting chaos into the market.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Authorities arrested presidential candidates, opposition figures, business leaders and journalists ahead of that vote as the government intensified its criminalization of dissent.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of intensify

Verb

During the initial June 11 to June 20 period, revenue per room rates fell in the Miami area on eight of ten nights compared to 2025 while occupancy declined on every one of the 10 nights, according to CoStar.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
MedStar Washington Hospital Center cites financial pressure and declining birth rates.

— Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 17 July 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

Such environmental waivers are not arbitrary decisions but legal mechanisms, ordered by local authorities, to prevent grid instability, for example when loss of wind generation would be exacerbated by curtailment of thermal plants.

— Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
But doesn’t address the root challenges of food insecurity, which in fact, has been exacerbated by administration actions.

— Sunny Patel, STAT, 17 July 2026

Definition of exacerbate

Browse Nearby Words

worse

worsen

worsened

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“Worsen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsen. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of worsen

verb

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