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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
But by the evening, lawmakers were still struggling to reach an agreement to end the impasse, even as many viewed the worsening situation at the nation's airports as untenable.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
The enormous amount of money flowing across Noem’s desk led to complaints of bottlenecks and worsening bureaucracy, and raised suspicions that Lewandowski was grifting off the contracts.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
That's because lower interest rates carry the risk of worsening inflation, and the spike in oil prices has heightened those worries.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
That’s because lower interest rates carry the risk of worsening inflation, and the spike in oil prices has heightened those worries.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Winter is the fastest-warming season across much of the US, which will likely mean lower overall snowpack, earlier peaks and a worsening outlook for the Colorado River in the years to come.
—Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
That’s because lower interest rates carry the risk of worsening inflation, and the spike in oil prices has heightened those worries.
—ABC News, 25 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
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
The goal is to facilitate talks and secure an easing of the White House pressure campaign to isolate Cuba through a de facto oil blockade that is causing crippling fuel shortages and worsening blackouts, according to several people familiar with the talks.
—Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
But by the evening, lawmakers were still struggling to reach an agreement to end the impasse, even as many viewed the worsening situation at the nation's airports as untenable.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
The enormous amount of money flowing across Noem’s desk led to complaints of bottlenecks and worsening bureaucracy, and raised suspicions that Lewandowski was grifting off the contracts.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
That's because lower interest rates carry the risk of worsening inflation, and the spike in oil prices has heightened those worries.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
That’s because lower interest rates carry the risk of worsening inflation, and the spike in oil prices has heightened those worries.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Winter is the fastest-warming season across much of the US, which will likely mean lower overall snowpack, earlier peaks and a worsening outlook for the Colorado River in the years to come.
—Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
That’s because lower interest rates carry the risk of worsening inflation, and the spike in oil prices has heightened those worries.
—ABC News, 25 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
Lifting them exposes the materials to rapid changes in pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels, which can accelerate deterioration or trigger instability.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The dramatic move offers the latest evidence of the deterioration in relations between Lebanon and Iran.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now the war has turned into a race to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating global economic order, central to which is reopening the Strait of Hormuz.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Her mother, Maria Alejandra, had told me in long, vivid emails about some of more serious concerns about her and her daughter’s deteriorating mental and physical health during their prolonged detention.—
Mica Rosenberg,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The slowdown in headline inflation was largely driven by deepening energy deflation, following the resumption of generous electricity and gas subsidies, Surya said.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Then, the darker shades took over with dark purple mid-lengths spliced with platinum highlights, deepening into a cranberry-magenta fusion at the ends.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Higher energy prices are also expected to widen India’s current account deficit, which has contributed to a weakening of the local currency, with the rupee touching record lows in recent days.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
However, as the show begins, the family’s pristine facade is just on the verge of crumbling.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The foundations are crumbling Congress is likely to continue to reduce benefits associated with both Social Security and Medicare.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Comparisons to the build-up to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis are now intensifying as concerns over underlying loan quality grow.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Climate change is intensifying Hawaii’s Kona low storms, leaving forecasters scrambling as their models struggle to predict moisture retention in these systems.—
Audrey McAvoy,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your experience was not a personal failing.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The grand jury had the options of handing up an indictment, declining to indict and issuing a report known as a presentment.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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