worsened

verb

past tense of worsen
1
as in deteriorated
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
2
as in aggravated
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 worsened The shortage worsened as the summer arrived, which is considered trauma season and a period of elevated demand for blood. — Velvet Wu july 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026 The indiscriminate immigration raids that terrorized Latino communities appeared to have worsened after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in September, according to LULAC’s report. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 As her body struggled to produce healthy red blood cells, her condition worsened, and a stem cell transplant became urgent. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Lindsay Clancy’s mental health worsened in December 2022 after a doctor increased her dosage of Seroquel, her former husband testified. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 29 July 2026 Most of Europe is also currently experiencing a critical drought, which worsened in central-western Europe in late June. — Simmone Shah, Time, 28 July 2026 Medicare spends billions of dollars each year treating heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and other illnesses caused or worsened by obesity. — Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The treatment subsequently worsened her ability to close her left eye, her complaint said. — Ella Moore july 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026 Now, the conflict in the Middle East has worsened food security for millions of people living in poverty, especially children. — ABC News, 19 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsened
  1. deteriorated
  2. aggravated
  3. crumbled
  4. intensified
  5. descended
  6. deepened
  7. declined
  8. complicated
Verb
  • The leggings were still wet, heavily soiled, and badly deteriorated, LaHendro testified, making the edge detail too unreliable for comparison.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
  • Oil prices have surged more than 30% in July with Brent crude breaking $100 per barrel on Thursday for the first time since May, as the security situation has rapidly deteriorated in the southern Red Sea and Hormuz.
    — Spencer Kimball,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Definition of deteriorated
Verb
  • Samuel’s U-turn comes amid uncertainty about wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who aggravated his right knee’s posterior cruciate ligament in Monday’s second practice of training camp.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • But the Dodgers previously believed only pitching aggravated the injury.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of aggravated
Verb
  • Aerial police footage showed some homes in residential areas were completely flattened, including a few that crumbled into a nearby river.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 July 2026
  • Inspired by the bright, herb-forward flavors of traditional Middle Eastern tabbouleh, this hearty variation replaces bulgur with fluffy couscous and adds roasted eggplant and crumbled feta for extra substance and depth.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Definition of crumbled
Verb
  • That has only intensified debate about the direction of the party.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • That increase has already led to more sunny day flooding, intensified rainfalls and hurricanes, reflected in higher and higher insurance premiums.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of intensified
Verb
  • While pilgrims ascended the mountain, Mayo supporters descended en masse on Dublin for the final at Croke Park, splashing the county’s colours across the capital.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • That’s why, a day before the smoke plumes descended, Saxon was using zip ties to fasten an air quality sensor to the railing of a house in McKinley Park, the latest of 15 or so installations she’s done over the past few years.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of descended
Verb
  • In college, shadowing a labor and delivery nurse and witnessing my first birth only deepened this passion.
    — Mara Evans, STAT, 27 July 2026
  • As his relationships deepened and demand for the wines grew, what had started as a hobby gradually became a full-time pursuit.
    — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of deepened
Verb
  • In an email signed by Stephen Tanner, Prosper's director of community engagement & experiences, the town also declined to answer questions.
    — Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Lochrie, the attorney representing the developers, declined to name them.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of declined
Verb
  • Platner’s relationship to the DSA (and democratic socialism more generally) has always been complicated.
    — Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • According to Ron Hammond, the head of Policy and Advocacy at the crypto firm Wintermute, the CLARITY Act’s path forward is now further complicated by a recent directive from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 24 July 2026
Definition of complicated

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Cite this Entry

“Worsened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsened. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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