as in deterioration
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of worsening
Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
Over three years of follow-up, people who received the higher dose of the treatment showed slower worsening of their movement and daily functioning than a control group that did not receive the therapy.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
According to IQAir, a number of natural weather and human phenomena can contribute to the air quality worsening.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
According to Shah, the rise in gestational diabetes can be attributed to the worsening of health in young adults throughout the country.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
In a series of stunning, large trials, researchers established that these drugs lowered blood glucose, delayed the worsening of kidney disease, and were strongly correlated with reduced risk of several cardiac conditions.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The figures suggest that Americans are increasingly wary of high costs and sluggish job gains, with perceptions of the labor market worsening, the survey found.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
In the old tool, the factors weren’t measured by a worsening, neutral or improving score.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Potential complications include sinus and ear infections; inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle tissues; multi-organ failure; sepsis or the worsening of chronic conditions like asthma.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
The mills, for their part, cited crippling financial losses that were compounded by high borrowing costs and a worsening fuel deficit.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
The French medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders is calling for urgent, coordinated action by Haiti’s government and international partners to address the surging rape crisis that has deepened amid Haiti’s worsening gang violence.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Low visibility, extremely low temperatures and worsening road conditions are also factors.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Jan. 2026
The nation, which has been under the rule of a theocratic authoritarian government since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, faced a round of widespread protests beginning in December over worsening economic conditions, including rising inflation and the collapse of the Iranian rial.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Labor conditions are not worsening, growth has accelerated and inflation has steadied for now.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Oil revenue is a key part of Russia's economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation and avoiding a currency collapse.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Breathing cold air can also irritate the airways, worsening conditions such as asthma and COPD.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
If your skin reaction is severe, worsening, persistent, or associated with allergy symptoms, get prompt medical attention.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2026
Over three years of follow-up, people who received the higher dose of the treatment showed slower worsening of their movement and daily functioning than a control group that did not receive the therapy.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
According to IQAir, a number of natural weather and human phenomena can contribute to the air quality worsening.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
According to Shah, the rise in gestational diabetes can be attributed to the worsening of health in young adults throughout the country.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
In a series of stunning, large trials, researchers established that these drugs lowered blood glucose, delayed the worsening of kidney disease, and were strongly correlated with reduced risk of several cardiac conditions.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The figures suggest that Americans are increasingly wary of high costs and sluggish job gains, with perceptions of the labor market worsening, the survey found.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
In the old tool, the factors weren’t measured by a worsening, neutral or improving score.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Potential complications include sinus and ear infections; inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle tissues; multi-organ failure; sepsis or the worsening of chronic conditions like asthma.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
Brin has committed $20 million to a new organization called Building a Better California, a political and policy effort aimed squarely at California’s worsening housing affordability problems, recent state disclosures show, as first reported by The New York Times.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
The mills, for their part, cited crippling financial losses that were compounded by high borrowing costs and a worsening fuel deficit.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
The French medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders is calling for urgent, coordinated action by Haiti’s government and international partners to address the surging rape crisis that has deepened amid Haiti’s worsening gang violence.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Low visibility, extremely low temperatures and worsening road conditions are also factors.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Jan. 2026
The nation, which has been under the rule of a theocratic authoritarian government since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, faced a round of widespread protests beginning in December over worsening economic conditions, including rising inflation and the collapse of the Iranian rial.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Labor conditions are not worsening, growth has accelerated and inflation has steadied for now.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Oil revenue is a key part of Russia's economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation and avoiding a currency collapse.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Breathing cold air can also irritate the airways, worsening conditions such as asthma and COPD.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
Cleaning Products And Chemicals Paint, fertilizer, weed killer, pool cleaners, and other temperature-sensitive chemicals should be brought indoors for the winter to prevent freezing and deterioration.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Motorists traveling across the area this morning, including along I-85 and I-77 through Charlotte metro and vicinity, should be prepared for sudden deterioration in visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cruz was responding to another post from Tehran Bureau, which cited a source inside Iran detailing what was described as a rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground as security forces continued to crack down on demonstrations.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Plough’s garden furniture is deteriorating, and an antique sign visible in the Cameron-Xi event is absent.—
Brendan Murray,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The one-day workshop brings together Phambassadors for speaker sessions, storytelling workshops and community-building — all in the name of deepening the Philly love.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Born Again is a worthy follow-up to its original series, deepening its themes of corruption and justice with Cox and D'Onofrio continuing to deliver committed performances.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Leveling threats of tariffs on adversaries and allies alike has been relatively easy, but the result has been a weakening of the economy and American trade ties, and a crumbling of the old global-trade system.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This weakening of the teeth of the apex predators could affect the broader marine ecosystem, too.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And behind every man with a good name and a crumbling pile, there’s a wife shrewdly attending to the seating plan.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Even with oil shipments from Venezuela, widespread blackouts have persisted across Cuba given fuel shortages and a crumbling electric grid.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Competition is also intensifying.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But competition is intensifying.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is something Director Smith said many of the failings of the First Step Act was because of the prior administrations misallocation of funding under the program.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This is not a failing of the principles of liberalism, however, but a failure of those entrusted to act in its name.—
Philip Mullins,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The company‘s core broadband business continues declining as customers abandon cable for wireless 5G alternatives.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Arnaout believes the absence of Maher took a mental toll on Wael which led to his health declining.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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