WORSENING Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

worsening 1 of 2

noun

as in deterioration

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

worsening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of worsen

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

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

Noun

While alcohol may transiently improve mood and ease social anxiety, long-term alcohol use can lead to a worsening of mood, cognition and sleep, which can further compound use. — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 2 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 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

Verb

Russia's economic situation Long queues have been seen at Russian petrol stations as the country grapples with a worsening fuel crisis. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 July 2026 The result is regional governments left with fewer resources to adapt to the worsening climate crisis, including efforts to combat water scarcity. — Sarah Yerkes, Time, 10 July 2026 Families are feeling squeezed by rising housing costs, worsening traffic, and the increasing cost of living. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 The project faces some neighborhood opposition, especially from those living next door at the Roney Palace condominium, several who aren’t happy about possible noise and traffic worsening on 22nd Street and Collins Avenue. — Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 Air quality alerts The four fires have led to consistently worsening air quality across the state, prompting state health officials to issue advisories. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 July 2026 That drought almost ended Wednesday against an ever-worsening home club with 34,023 paying witness. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 The market needs to know how investors and companies are preparing for these challenges, acting on them, and supporting the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy economy to avoid worsening disasters. — Mindy Lubber, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Over several days, the boy was taken to clinics and emergency rooms as doctors searched for the cause of his worsening symptoms, the report said. — Sophie Ziedalski, NBC news, 2 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening

Noun

But nothing competes with the painful deterioration of her sight after contracting scarlet fever.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
In addition, city officials can now require owners to install security measures to help protect vacant buildings from further deterioration or trespassing.

— Brian Maass, CBS News, 2 July 2026

Definition of deterioration

Verb

In 1922, Kenmore House was deteriorating, and the Kenmore Association and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) needed $30,000 for its repairs and restoration.

— Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
And his political standing is now suddenly deteriorating to the point where Congress is maybe losing some of its fear, and there may be a different Congress after November.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Verb

Trump later dropped it, but still threatened tariffs against those who opposed his grab — deepening the rift.

— Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Europe’s strategic periphery is not only integral to European security but is actively deepening transatlantic tensions and sharpening intra-European divisions.

— Galip Dalay, Time, 7 July 2026

Definition of deepening

Noun

Spongy or uneven surfaces are caused by structural weakening from internal damage.

— Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
Press freedoms across Africa are already fragile, with most nations ranking in the lower half of an influential press freedoms index, while numerous recent coups have contributed to a weakening of democratic norms in parts of the continent.

— Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

An islandwide blackout plunged Cuba’s nearly 10 million residents into darkness Monday, exposing a crumbling power grid and dwindling fuel reserves as officials raced to restore electricity.

— Milexsy Durán, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Of course, Microsoft’s browser dominance was crumbling by the time the EU managed to get that implemented.

— Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of crumbling

Verb

Brown was the subject of rampant trade rumors in recent weeks, with those intensifying after the Celtics’ attempt to flip him for Giannis Antetokounmpo failed.

— Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
By expanding in Houston suburbs and the Rio Grande Valley, Sam’s Club is intensifying competition with Costco, BJ’s and local grocers for membership dollars.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of intensifying

Noun

Yet, for those failings, the Selecao found a way to come through on both occasions – mainly due to the in-game changes Ancelotti made.

— Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Such failings merits more analysis but there is surely some truth in left back Ali Abdi’s comments after a 4-0 filleting by Japan in their second game.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of failing

Verb

There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
For years now, Olathe Schools has talked about its problem of declining enrollment.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of declining

Browse Nearby Words

worsened

worsening

worsens

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of worsening

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on worsening

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes