1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect
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Recent Examples of worsen
And Takaichi’s stimulus-heavy prescription for the economy has shaken bond vigilantes, while analysts have also warned about the possibility of a worsening debt crisis.
—
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Advertisement But the song—and the stagecraft—also served to call attention to Puerto Rico’s frequent blackouts, which worsened following the private takeover of the island’s grid.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism—but chronic uncontrolled inflammation can be harmful and worsen disease, Klein explains.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
What’s particularly concerning, S&P said, is that the price decline in China’s biggest cities worsened in the fourth quarter of last year.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worsen
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Advertisement But the song—and the stagecraft—also served to call attention to Puerto Rico’s frequent blackouts, which worsened following the private takeover of the island’s grid.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism—but chronic uncontrolled inflammation can be harmful and worsen disease, Klein explains.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026
What’s particularly concerning, S&P said, is that the price decline in China’s biggest cities worsened in the fourth quarter of last year.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for worsen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsen
Verb
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Because of deteriorating conditions, operations were transitioned to a defensive strategy, Marceau said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Working conditions, meanwhile, have continued to deteriorate as the demands on workers increase.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The consequences of Russian strikes are aggravated in many urban areas by reliance on centralized heating systems, a legacy of the Soviet era.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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Kendall Coleman, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of second-degree assault and aggravated fleeing a stop or detention causing physical injury, according to a guilty plea document filed in Jackson County court.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But empires fall, and dynasties crumble.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Harkening back to the out-of-this-world aesthetics that won them broad acclaim for Poor Things, the commercial opens on a crumbling modernist edifice on a rocky outcrop in a stormy ocean.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Anand cited deepening ties on defense, security, climate change, economic resilience and Arctic co-operation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Hicks' work with the charity, combined with his fluency in Spanish, helped deepen his ties to immigrant communities.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This time last year, the Davis Cup descended into farce and acrimony when Zizou Bergs of Belgium collided with Chile’s Cristian Garín at a changeover and set off a chain of events that led to Garín losing the match after being timed out.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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This weekend, Super Bowl crowds are descending on San Francisco for the first time in ten years—and the timing couldn’t be more apt.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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French wine and spirits exports have slipped from being traditionally France’s second-largest export sector to third, behind aerospace and cosmetics, as trade tensions intensified.—
Reuters 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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This causes the outer layers of the star to expand and cool, evolving into a red giant, while the interior of the core heats up, intensifying the rate of fusion within it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The driver and bicyclist declined to be transported to the hospital, according to officials.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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The sheriff declined to answer several questions, including one from a reporter who asked if there was a ransom demanded.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The development comes as the US attempts to cut its long-time communist foe Havana off from receiving oil deliveries from its regional neighbors, a move that has exacerbated a long-standing fuel crisis on the Caribbean island.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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The status quo isn’t working for artists or students, and the city’s inaction is exacerbating the arts access gap while hurting the New Yorkers who need public arts access most.—
Kimberly Olsen,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsen. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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