worsening 1 of 2

worsening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of worsen

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
Accelerating these efforts is crucial to protect children from worsening climate impacts. Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 2 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 The uninterrupted sun dries out soil increasing drought risk, and light winds allow pollutants to build up, worsening air quality, particularly in urban areas. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 July 2026 At first, the crew believed the worsening weather was manageable but moments later, everything changed. Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Dangerous fire weather conditions are expected to continue through the rest of the week, worsening near the week’s end, meaning there’s no end in sight for the beleaguered region. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 The film’s core narrative was that climate change is driving ever-worsening disasters, such as floods, droughts, storms and wildfires. Bjorn Lomborg, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026 The work of mitigating the potential environmental fallout and addressing the creeping issue of how to handle the worsening smell of millions of pounds of spoiled food is now in the hands of the building’s private tenant. Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 The mayor said sending Haitian TPS holders back to Haiti would be irresponsible because of the country’s worsening security crisis, including rampant kidnappings and extreme gang violence. Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
  • The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration.
    Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • That enables Cadence’s system, which is supervised by physicians, to alert a clinician when a patient is deteriorating before a stroke or heart attack, for example.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • By the time the kids make it to the Gullet, the situation is deteriorating.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Without a unified, clean, and accessible data structure, AI outputs quickly become ambiguous, hallucinated, and diluted, deepening the clarity crisis rather than resolving it.
    Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • State Street granted Saudi fund administration license State Street has secured a fund administration license in Saudi Arabia, thereby deepening the presence of one of the world’s biggest custodian banks in the kingdom.
    Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • One of the most significant changes during Hill’s tenure was the weakening of structures designed to elevate teacher concerns to district leadership, Oreskovic said.
    Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • In the temple's crumbling courtyard, little remains… mostly empty pedestals scattered among the Sralao trees.
    Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 28 June 2026
  • This medieval village was built onto a cliff overlooking the sea, where you can get lost in the narrow lanes among crumbling buildings with laundry dangling on clotheslines.
    Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • That was despite intensifying heat that Cage and the communications team would make a point of emphasizing on-site and in messaging.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
  • Airbnb is intensifying its fight against disruptive parties, particularly for holidays like July 4th, employing advanced technology to block high-risk bookings.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • The new documentary reveals some of the interpersonal and business conflicts that led to the disintegration of the classic EW&F line-up, boldly highlighting the various triumphs and failings of leader Maurice White who died in 2016 at age 74 from Parkinson’s disease.
    Prof. Mike Alleyne Ph.D, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • These failings dated from 2012 to May 2025.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • After years of declining sales, American Girl dolls are seeing a resurgence.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The state also has goals, including some that have been in place since 2012, that set declining limits on smog-causing pollutants and required automakers to sell increasing percentages of electric and hybrid vehicles through 2025.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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