as in deterioration
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deepening
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 worsening
Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026
The South Bay has been able to absorb thousands of layoffs yet still avoid a worsening of the jobless rate in the region, Hancock noted.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Two of the people with MS, including Miller, have progressive MS, a form of the disease marked by gradual worsening of neurological function and disabilities over time.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
With America’s loneliness epidemic worsening, there’s a real risk of suicide rates continuing to rise.
—Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 5 Mar. 2026
Homelessness in Detroit Detroit’s homelessness crisis is both long-standing and worsening.
—Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Studies show that up to 70% of women report a significant worsening of ADHD symptoms during perimenopause, yet almost none of them were told this would happen.
—Sarah Oreck, SELF, 2 Mar. 2026
Those protests began in Tehran in late December in response to the collapse of the Iranian currency and the worsening of economic conditions, and then quickly took on a political character -- with crowds on the streets openly calling for regime change.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
If your skin reaction is severe, worsening, persistent, or associated with allergy symptoms, get prompt medical attention.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
In the weeks since the meeting, several officials have warned about the worsening inflation outlook as the Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively blocked and bond yields have soared.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
The South's worsening drought has led to a large uptick in wildfire activity in the area this year.
—Kyle David, ABC News, 20 May 2026
Foreign investors continue to be bearish on India due to weak earnings and the worsening economic impact from the rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Last year, Rolling Stone reported on Amazon data centers in Eastern Oregon that siphoned tens of millions of gallons of water from state aquifers, worsening a water pollution problem linked to cancer and miscarriages.
—Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
This worsening health crisis for quartz-industry workers has made many more headlines than the business dispute over tariffs.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 17 May 2026
Shortages are worsening, and Wall Street sees an imminent tipping point ahead.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Samsung has warned that the AI boom is worsening chip shortages and creating headwinds for its own smartphone and display units.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
However, the incidents have contributed to a worsening of the mood around Madrid and should also be considered notable for that reason.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026
The South Bay has been able to absorb thousands of layoffs yet still avoid a worsening of the jobless rate in the region, Hancock noted.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Two of the people with MS, including Miller, have progressive MS, a form of the disease marked by gradual worsening of neurological function and disabilities over time.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
With America’s loneliness epidemic worsening, there’s a real risk of suicide rates continuing to rise.
—Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 5 Mar. 2026
Homelessness in Detroit Detroit’s homelessness crisis is both long-standing and worsening.
—Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Studies show that up to 70% of women report a significant worsening of ADHD symptoms during perimenopause, yet almost none of them were told this would happen.
—Sarah Oreck, SELF, 2 Mar. 2026
Those protests began in Tehran in late December in response to the collapse of the Iranian currency and the worsening of economic conditions, and then quickly took on a political character -- with crowds on the streets openly calling for regime change.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
If your skin reaction is severe, worsening, persistent, or associated with allergy symptoms, get prompt medical attention.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
Yields had been down Friday morning, offering some relief, before wavering after oil prices erased their losses and the survey on consumer sentiment showed worsening inflation expectations.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
In the weeks since the meeting, several officials have warned about the worsening inflation outlook as the Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively blocked and bond yields have soared.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
The South's worsening drought has led to a large uptick in wildfire activity in the area this year.
—Kyle David, ABC News, 20 May 2026
Foreign investors continue to be bearish on India due to weak earnings and the worsening economic impact from the rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Last year, Rolling Stone reported on Amazon data centers in Eastern Oregon that siphoned tens of millions of gallons of water from state aquifers, worsening a water pollution problem linked to cancer and miscarriages.
—Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
This worsening health crisis for quartz-industry workers has made many more headlines than the business dispute over tariffs.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 17 May 2026
Shortages are worsening, and Wall Street sees an imminent tipping point ahead.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Samsung has warned that the AI boom is worsening chip shortages and creating headwinds for its own smartphone and display units.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
Prolonged vacancy has caused structural deterioration and the historic Centennial Hill neighborhood surrounding it faces pressure from development.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
-
Long vacant, the building suffers from structural deterioration.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Her family has said that her health had been deteriorating in prison, in part because she was heavily beaten during her arrest.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
-
Giuliani's doctor, Maria Ryan, told Fox News correspondent Danamarie McNicholl that the former mayor began feeling ill after returning from a trip to Paris, with his breathing deteriorating to the point that he was placed on a ventilator.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The operator of the third-busiest cargo port in the United States has agreed to invest $8 million or more for a feasibility study into deepening and widening the 33-mile-long shipping channel.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
19 May 2026
-
In a stunning rebuke, the Board of Governors rejected his appointment, forcing UF to restart the search and deepening concerns among faculty and alumni that ideological alignment now outweighs academic credentials in Florida university leadership.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s not a lot of visible output of the meeting—that doesn’t mean that nothing happened—but one of the things that was visible was a remarkable weakening of the American line on Taiwan.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
-
The measles virus can result in long-term damage, including a weakening of children’s immune systems.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The mounting costs of Putin’s war on Ukraine have contributed to the nation’s shift, as Russians grapple with higher inflation, more taxes, crumbling infrastructure, tighter censorship, and myriad new restrictions.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
The final sentence feels apt given that Starmer’s Labour administration is crumbling.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The funding round came amid intensifying competition from major players like Microsoft and Amazon, as well as a wave of AI-native startups including fellow 2026 Disruptor Perplexity.—
Michelle Castillo,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
There’s concern that the amount of water needed to cool Stratos facilities could further drain the Great Salt Lake, intensifying exposure to toxic sediments in the rapidly shrinking watershed.—
Mary Jane Gibson,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
More bailouts would paper over the failings of federal regulation.—
Marc Scribner,
Washington Post,
13 May 2026
-
Equally important is practicing self-care and self-compassion, which, Broder says, means treating yourself with kindness instead of judgment and recognizing that your patterns developed as a way to cope, not as a personal failing.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Black Bear officials cited the program's declining participation rates and finances as the reason.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
Sadly, bat populations are declining rapidly in North America.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
