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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worsening
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
Gastrointestinal Issues Wearing tight clothing that increases intra-abdominal pressure can lead to issues with gastrointestinal health, including the worsening of acid reflux.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
Prompt vet care is crucial to relieve pain, prevent worsening, and protect your cat’s vision.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
The 16-member task force reviews evidence and public input, then recommends preventive services that catch disease early or prevent worsening, which insurers must cover without patient cost-sharing.
—Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
In addition, 37 percent of participants on Wegovy saw improvement in liver scarring and no worsening of MASH, compared with 22 percent with the placebo.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 Aug. 2025
And their medial knee cartilage showed less worsening, suggesting slower cartilage degeneration.
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
Hurricane Milton also opened Milton Pass, slicing Stump Pass Beach State Park in half and destabilizing nearby barrier islands, which could lead to worsening beach erosion.
—Jack Prator, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
The best foods to eat provide you with energy without worsening your symptoms.
—Mary Nolan-Pleckham, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026
Some 8 million Venezuelans have left the country in recent years, amid a worsening economy, international isolation and political repression.
—Keir Simmons, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026
Gaza, which lies in ruins, is enduring a harsh winter, with heavy rain and plunging temperatures worsening already dire living conditions.
—CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Protests began on December 28, 2025, with Tehran shopkeepers rallying against Iran's worsening economy have spread to other cities, drawing in students as well.
—April Roach, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
Protests kicked off over the weekend in Iran, where economic conditions are worsening.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
Hammad said the floods also damaged infrastructure in the affected districts, killed livestock, and affected 1,800 families, worsening conditions in already vulnerable urban and rural communities.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
Gastrointestinal Issues Wearing tight clothing that increases intra-abdominal pressure can lead to issues with gastrointestinal health, including the worsening of acid reflux.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
Prompt vet care is crucial to relieve pain, prevent worsening, and protect your cat’s vision.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
The 16-member task force reviews evidence and public input, then recommends preventive services that catch disease early or prevent worsening, which insurers must cover without patient cost-sharing.
—Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
In addition, 37 percent of participants on Wegovy saw improvement in liver scarring and no worsening of MASH, compared with 22 percent with the placebo.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 Aug. 2025
And their medial knee cartilage showed less worsening, suggesting slower cartilage degeneration.
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
The next year, there was a nearly 10 percent rise in homelessness in the city, worsening an already difficult situation.
—Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
Hurricane Milton also opened Milton Pass, slicing Stump Pass Beach State Park in half and destabilizing nearby barrier islands, which could lead to worsening beach erosion.
—Jack Prator, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
The best foods to eat provide you with energy without worsening your symptoms.
—Mary Nolan-Pleckham, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026
Some 8 million Venezuelans have left the country in recent years, amid a worsening economy, international isolation and political repression.
—Keir Simmons, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026
Gaza, which lies in ruins, is enduring a harsh winter, with heavy rain and plunging temperatures worsening already dire living conditions.
—CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Protests began on December 28, 2025, with Tehran shopkeepers rallying against Iran's worsening economy have spread to other cities, drawing in students as well.
—April Roach, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
Protests kicked off over the weekend in Iran, where economic conditions are worsening.
—Max Rego, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
Hammad said the floods also damaged infrastructure in the affected districts, killed livestock, and affected 1,800 families, worsening conditions in already vulnerable urban and rural communities.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
With the deterioration and rise of crime in South Beach in the late 1970s, as well as inflation and the shrinking tourist business, the Famous was forced to close in 1981.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
-
While analysts do not expect the rift to escalate into direct conflict, even a limited deterioration could carry far-reaching consequences.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For now, all that can be said for certain, judging by the latest implosion in his current employers West Ham’s fast-deteriorating season, is that nobody has benefited from his falling-out with Edu and the sequence of events that brought about Nuno’s exit from the City Ground.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Iran has been racked by protests over the past several days around deteriorating economic conditions in the country, made worse by a growing water crisis and severe sanctions against Tehran.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But there were bright spots, too, including awe-inspiring concerts; trips to different cities and countries; and deepening friendships over card games, meals and dancing until the wee hours.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Anjula Acharia is deepening her partnership with Warner Music Group, launching a new management entity under the 5 Junction umbrella less than a year after establishing the label.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While the economy has been resilient for the most part, any weakening in 2026 could have an outsize effect on more price-sensitive consumers and, therefore, airlines that are more exposed to coach-class domestic travel, like lower-cost carriers.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2026
-
One is the weakening of the American economy.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The ensuing 2022-23 season saw Rayo beat both Barca and Madrid when Spain’s big two came to their crumbling Estadio Vallecas.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Frank’s crew rolls into the crumbling squat that is Colombian HQ, sporting body armor and flamethrowers.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Syrian government and Kurdish forces accuse each other of targeting civilians and hospitals, intensifying humanitarian concerns amid the military standoff.—
Ghaith Alsayed,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
All those factors have created a dynamic in Congress in which the potency of Republican dissent is intensifying, especially amid the approaching midterm elections, which historically spell trouble for the party in power.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins’ majority owner since 2009, is now looking for his eighth different head coach in a parade of floundering, flailing and failing.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Robotics startups typically prefer to show off their research prototypes in videos on social media, offering them the opportunity to show the machines at their best and edit out their failings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the company, the declining profits stemmed from low drug reimbursement rates and slow retail sales.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
After all, there are signs that the economy is improving (unemployment and inflation are declining), but after the economic struggles of recent years, and with household debt still high, an additional financing source won't hurt, either.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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