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
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
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
Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
The worsening situation also has sparked small protests.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Still, the growing frequency of Chinese military incursions around the island and worsening relations between Beijing and Taipei have raised fears that Xi might ultimately resort to force.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
But widespread drought, in part caused by a lack of snowfall in the west and north, is worsening the risk, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which monitors wildfires.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026
Water quality in many canals and bays is worsening.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 17 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Cubans say there is little food, power, fuel or relief under worsening conditions.
—David Hickey, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
They are also tied to reports of worsening detention conditions.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The country is facing a worsening economic crisis.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
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
Verb
But lower rates risk worsening inflation.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
The worsening situation also has sparked small protests.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Still, the growing frequency of Chinese military incursions around the island and worsening relations between Beijing and Taipei have raised fears that Xi might ultimately resort to force.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
But widespread drought, in part caused by a lack of snowfall in the west and north, is worsening the risk, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, which monitors wildfires.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026
Water quality in many canals and bays is worsening.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 17 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, Cubans say there is little food, power, fuel or relief under worsening conditions.
—David Hickey, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
They are also tied to reports of worsening detention conditions.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
The country is facing a worsening economic crisis.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
All the hallmarks of an economic collapse are there, including the gradual shutdown and deterioration of public services, shortages of basic goods, and major rises in the cost of living.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond next week’s meeting, policymakers will need to be cognizant of balancing new inflation risks from the war in Iran with any signs of deterioration in the labor market.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Blackouts now last most of the day in many Cuban cities, tourism is dwindling, and some foreign companies have begun to pull their personnel from the island amid deteriorating conditions.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Loose or deteriorating flashings, which can be caused by harsh winter weather and changing temperatures, are one of the most common sources of roof leaks.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The impact of the war in the Middle East is deepening in economies far beyond the region as energy prices spike, forcing experts to reassess the risk of a global recession.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Díaz-Canel acknowledged last week that his government is in talks with Washington, a rare public admission that came as Cuba faces deepening economic turmoil and energy shortages.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
17 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
-
Toki died waiting in a filthy, crumbling tank at one of the oldest marine parks in the world.—
Valerie Greene,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
-
No player on this Florida roster has watched an SEC Championship before, yet now the Gators get the pleasure of waiting and seeing whether their crumbling still warrants a spot along the top-seed line.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Israeli military killed Iran’s intelligence minister, the latest senior Iranian figure to be assassinated in Israel’s intensifying campaign to destabilize the Islamic Republic.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Competition in live sports is intensifying, however.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Because the Duggars adhere to a fundamentalist fringe of evangelicalism, the liberal media are often quick to use the family’s failings as a cautionary tale about Christianity in general, and conservatives can be too quick to interpret criticism of the family as criticism of the church.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
When teachers raised scores for students at threat of failing—from an F to a D, for example—that actually paid off, preventing those students from repeating a grade and improving their high school graduation rate.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Haithcock said schools have been financially hamstrung since Act 10 – the Scott Walker-era landmark law in 2011 that curtailed union bargaining power and cut take-home pay for workers – especially amid declining student enrollment.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
While an unconventional choice for the typically squeaky-clean Bachelor franchise, a soft-swinging TikTok influencer turned reality star at first sounded like the 180 the franchise desperately needed after years of declining ratings and a seemingly outdated format amid modern dating culture.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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