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

Relevance

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 The wildfire, which broke out in Western Attica near the Greek capital Athens, has been worsened by Greece’s gusty, dry winds known as Meltemi, which affects the country during July and August. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 However, many say graft has only worsened under the aegis of generals and admirals. — Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 In both cases, chasing a healthy ideal too aggressively can worsen the problem the person set out to fix. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Those acts of defiance, as well as frequent protests by retirees against worsening livelihoods, have helped shatter the narrative that Iranians are united behind their country’s war against the United States and Israel. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worsen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsen

Verb

Her vision deteriorated, at times disappearing completely, while neurological symptoms led to seizure-like episodes and stroke-like symptoms.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.

— Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 July 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Verb

Since then, his game behind the plate has vacillated between good and bad — an inconsistency aggravated by the presence of Luis Torrens (and his defensive excellence) as his backup.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
That said, keep in mind that spicy foods can cause side effects or aggravate underlying health conditions, like heartburn, so please seek medical guidance before making any dietary changes.

— Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggravate

Verb

State road officials on Saturday closed an exit on the Kennedy Expressway near Jefferson Park after part of a retaining wall crumbled.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
But after the platform changed its algorithm and views of PurelyWhite content plummeted, his business crumbled.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

The friends eventually grew bored and went back to their cocktails, but the rest of the viewers continued watching as the dancer descended the museum’s outdoor staircase and linked up with four others below.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Midnight Madness also has a first look for Kick On, an action horror thriller from Nick Kozakis, and about a night of partying by four friends descending into a spiral of paranoia, violence and betrayals.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

History shows that presidents who intensify wars in pursuit of a way out, or to protect their own prestige or America’s reputation, descend a slippery slope.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Rising electricity demand from AI data centers has intensified the search for on-site power systems that can ease pressure on strained grids without locking operators into a single fuel.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of intensify

Verb

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has released reports on declining inventories based on budget documents and other public information.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Nike had the option to match the adidas offer and declined, making way for the three-stripe era.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

Additionally, some critics have said cuts made last year to federal food-monitoring systems for pathogens, such as cyclospora, could exacerbate the challenges.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
Unfortunately, there is no shortage of wildfires to keep an eye on across the world as climate change exacerbates traditional wildfire seasons.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of exacerbate

Browse Nearby Words

worse

worsen

worsened

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Worsen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsen. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of worsen

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on worsen

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes