Synonyms of worsening

worsening 1 of 2

noun

as in deterioration

Related Words

• deterioration
• weakening
• failing
• fading
• sinking
• degeneration
• decline
• wilting
• languishing
• withering
• regression
• wasting (away)
• relapse

Dissimilar Words

• recovery
• rehabilitation
• healing
• convalescence
• recuperation
• mending
• rehab
• comeback
• revival
• rally
• survival
• resuscitation
• snapback

worsening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of worsen

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

• deteriorating
• crumbling
• declining
• descending
• diminishing
• degenerating
• rotting
• ebbing
• sinking
• decaying
• regressing
• weakening
• devolving
• retrograding
• atrophying
• disintegrating
• sagging
• falling
• reducing
• dwindling
• waning
• going to pot
• receding
• going to seed
• downsizing
• degrading
• slipping
• decomposing
• souring
• undermining
• debilitating
• putrefying
• lessening
• abating
• dilapidating
• corrupting
• spoiling
• moldering
• lagging
• de-escalating
• lowering
• drooping
• failing
• wasting (away)
• languishing
• flagging
• running down
• breaking down
• wilting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improving
• ameliorating
• upgrading
• bettering
• intensifying
• enhancing
• strengthening
• meliorating
• developing
• heightening
• enriching
• progressing
• proceeding
• advancing
• fortifying
• marching

2

as in deepening

to make more severe

the harsh winter only worsened the fuel shortage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deepening
• intensifying
• aggravating
• complicating
• exacerbating
• amplifying
• magnifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alleviating
• relieving
• mitigating
• helping
• improving
• easing
• ameliorating
• allaying
• bettering
• assuaging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of worsening

Noun

The most active group had less worsening of those motor symptoms than the least active group. — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Faster diagnosis can help people with early-stage Alzheimer’s qualify for drugs that can modestly slow the worsening of their symptoms. — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Indonesia has pledged to keep subsidized fuel prices unchanged through 2026, which may strain the budget if oil prices rise again due to supply disruptions or a worsening of military confrontations. — Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Troubling statistics While many of Kraepelin’s observations were spot on, his views on the disorder causing inevitable worsening were incorrect. — Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

The filing is backed by a Phase 3 study that showed the drug resulted in significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival over standard chemotherapy, along with delayed worsening of pain and quality of life. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 23 July 2026

Limited evidence suggests that people with genetic deficiencies of CoQ10 who abruptly stop taking it can experience a worsening of kidney function. — Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 16 June 2026

For example, stopping antidepressants or anxiety medication can lead to severe worsening of the condition or potentially dangerous withdrawals. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

People with postexertional malaise, the worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion, may be at a higher risk for adverse effects from the therapy, Faghy and Putrino point out. — Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 1 June 2026

Verb

Akio Kon | Bloomberg | Getty Images As Intel comes off its steepest stock drop since the 1970s due to a worsening outlook for the PC market, the chipmaker is facing intensifying pressure to get its flailing foundry business off the ground. — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026

The trial was halted early, though, when results indicated that the drug was worsening people’s cognition. — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

The method, if effective, could help people combat disease without worsening antibiotic resistance. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 30 Oct. 2026

Uh oh, Nvidia has pulled RTX 5080 graphics card from its online store, raising fears the product has been discontinued amid a worsening memory shortage. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

Many policy groups, political candidates and others insist Connecticut must cut taxes again next year, particularly on poor and middle-class families, to combat a worsening affordability crisis. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026

However, new or worsening shortness of breath should be evaluated. — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2026

The worsening crisis in the Caribbean country of nearly 12 million people is blamed on a surge in gang violence and displacement, combined with high food and fuel prices and an extreme El Niño weather phenomenon that is threatening food security. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

While there is not yet a cure for MS, there are more than 20 therapies that can help reduce disease activity and slow worsening for many people living with MS. — Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026