as in deterioration
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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
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
Homelessness in Detroit Detroit’s homelessness crisis is both long-standing and worsening.
—Deyanira Nevárez MartÃnez, 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
Karel Janicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The West Texas project recently received the largest air pollution permit ever granted in the US, while Musk’s Memphis project has faced multiple lawsuits arguing the gas turbines are worsening air quality in historically Black communities.
—Mark Chediak, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
When the problem is faulty wound healing, any treatment that creates new wounds risks failing or worsening the problem.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Oil revenue is the linchpin of Russia’s economy, allowing Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The film tells the story of her Hungarian family’s relocation to Vancouver Island during one summer in the 1990s, as her parents grapple with the worsening and mystifying behavior of her older half-brother Jeremy (Edik Beddoes).
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Some of the major respiratory symptoms of air pollution include wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, worsening COPD and lung cancer.
—Samantha Neely, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
While most of Maryland has been facing some level of drought since last year, conditions have fluctuated, improving in June 2025 and worsening in recent days.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Alice Ribes, emergency country director for the International Rescue Committee in Haiti, said millions continue to face a worsening crisis marked by escalating violence, hunger and starvation, forced displacement of people from their homes and outbreaks of disease.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
Homelessness in Detroit Detroit’s homelessness crisis is both long-standing and worsening.
—Deyanira Nevárez MartÃnez, 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
Verb
Oil revenue is the linchpin of Russia’s economy, allowing Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
—Karel Janicek, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The West Texas project recently received the largest air pollution permit ever granted in the US, while Musk’s Memphis project has faced multiple lawsuits arguing the gas turbines are worsening air quality in historically Black communities.
—Mark Chediak, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
When the problem is faulty wound healing, any treatment that creates new wounds risks failing or worsening the problem.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Oil revenue is the linchpin of Russia’s economy, allowing Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The film tells the story of her Hungarian family’s relocation to Vancouver Island during one summer in the 1990s, as her parents grapple with the worsening and mystifying behavior of her older half-brother Jeremy (Edik Beddoes).
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Some of the major respiratory symptoms of air pollution include wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, worsening COPD and lung cancer.
—Samantha Neely, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
While most of Maryland has been facing some level of drought since last year, conditions have fluctuated, improving in June 2025 and worsening in recent days.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Alice Ribes, emergency country director for the International Rescue Committee in Haiti, said millions continue to face a worsening crisis marked by escalating violence, hunger and starvation, forced displacement of people from their homes and outbreaks of disease.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
Noun
-
Scientists at the University of South Alabama observed that mice on a high-salt diet experienced rapid deterioration in their blood vessel function.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
One is instantaneous, the brain just flips into unrecognizable thoughts, and the other is a deterioration over time.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Boyd window has undergone conservation in the past, including restoration work in the 1990s to address deteriorating elements.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The film resurfaced after a collection of deteriorating nitrate reels was submitted to the Library of Congress by a Michigan man who inherited them from his great-grandfather.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The deal is Ascentium’s most recent in more than a dozen acquisitions, plugging a gap in the company’s mainland China coverage while deepening its footprint in hot Southeast Asian growth markets.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Ashley’s fear of abandonment has developed throughout the season; Austin’s articulation only puts a fine point on it, instead of deepening their relationship.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
It is anticipated that supervisors will attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of voters, by pretending this measure is a new implementation of term limits instead of a weakening of term limits.—
John Franklin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The weakening is mainly attributed to climate change, according to Elipot, speaking in a podcast interview with USA TODAY.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Proponents of the extensions say the country remains wracked by gang violence and crumbling medical infrastructure.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The money is expected to now be invested in the island’s crumbling power grid, which was razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 but was already deteriorated given a lack of investment and maintenance.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Florida has been grappling with intensifying natural disasters, soaring insurance premiums, and rising condo HOA fees, which have prompted some homeowners to leave, according to Redfin.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The investigation into the shooting death of Bronx grandfather Edgar Spence is intensifying, with community advocates now offering a $5,000 reward in the case.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Now it had been relegated again to a leftist cause, a symbol of anti-imperial resistance for some and the face of communism’s failings for others.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The owner of the daycare, and the center itself, are also due to be sentenced after admitting safety failings, per the BBC and The Independent.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Nuggets refused to engage, declining to respond on the off day.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Variety is tracking which programs could land on the Emmy ballots, and has once again found a declining pool of eligible series.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
