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
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
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
Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Worries are worsening that the war could block the production of oil in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating surge of inflation for the global economy.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Why pollen seasons are worsening Researchers say pollen seasons in metro Atlanta and other cities are becoming longer and more intense, a trend partly linked to climate change.
—Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The Biden administration expanded the protections for Haiti amid worsening crises in the Caribbean country, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Behind the scenes, DHS officials worry that the longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk that more TSA employees will leave, worsening staffing shortages beyond the immediate crisis.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The data complicates the Federal Reserve’s rate-cut decision, forcing it to weigh a worsening labor market against inflation concerns, pressures that have only intensified since the US attacked Iran.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
On the Far South Side, 1 in 4 residents said their expectations for neighborhood improvement were worsening — compared with just 11% on the North Side.
—Jennifer Tescher, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
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
Verb
The country is facing a worsening economic crisis.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Worries are worsening that the war could block the production of oil in the Persian Gulf for a long time and cause a debilitating surge of inflation for the global economy.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Why pollen seasons are worsening Researchers say pollen seasons in metro Atlanta and other cities are becoming longer and more intense, a trend partly linked to climate change.
—Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The Biden administration expanded the protections for Haiti amid worsening crises in the Caribbean country, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Behind the scenes, DHS officials worry that the longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the risk that more TSA employees will leave, worsening staffing shortages beyond the immediate crisis.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.
—CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The data complicates the Federal Reserve’s rate-cut decision, forcing it to weigh a worsening labor market against inflation concerns, pressures that have only intensified since the US attacked Iran.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
On the Far South Side, 1 in 4 residents said their expectations for neighborhood improvement were worsening — compared with just 11% on the North Side.
—Jennifer Tescher, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
Summary The recent selloff in SLB appears driven more by macro uncertainty and market positioning than by any deterioration in the company’s fundamentals.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Contributing to the rust and deterioration of the village mains is not just their age but the fact that Sleepy Hollow’s soil is mostly soft and partially peaty, Hof said.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The two-time Oscar winner captures Garland in showstopper mode and, with spine curved and cigarette in hand, deftly communicates Garland's deteriorating state and the toll of her struggles with addiction.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Ollongren also warned of the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the war’s adverse effects on human rights in Iran and the broader region.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The song revolves slowly, casting loop against deepening loop, asking for the same careful quality of attention as William Basinski or Stars of the Lid.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Yet many of the old-timers and young tech workers who live here seem to have accepted the coming changes as an unavoidable reality of California’s deepening housing crisis.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
To be sure, Barclays acknowledged Nike’s turnaround still faces risks around tariffs, competition and a potential weakening in consumer spending tied to the Middle East conflict.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The blackout, the second such outage to affect western Cuba in three months, was blamed on a crumbling electric grid and a lack of fuel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Failing to correct problems can lead to crumbling home foundations, rotting wood, mold growth, and a proliferation of pests, including termites.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Benoit Tessier | Reuters LONDON — European stocks are expected to open lower on Wednesday, as traders monitor intensifying operations in the Middle East.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The government is intensifying efforts to rein in a glut in production.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Reporters here and across the nation routinely request public records to illuminate systemic failings, abuse and corruption across all levels of government.—
Katie Moore,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The narrators have soft spots for various failings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the financial incentive for workers to take the leap to a new job has been steadily declining for years, as employees cling to their roles and hiring stagnates.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
For city officials, the agreement marks the most significant progress yet in their efforts to see the Sunrise Mall redeveloped from a declining retail center into a vibrant, mixed-use property with housing, entertainment and hotels.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
