worsens

verb

present tense third-person singular of worsen
1
as in deteriorates
to become worse or of less value the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deepens
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 worsens The condition also worsens over time. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 26 June 2026 Oven buildup worsens over time, especially with roasting or broiling. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 2 July 2026 Once the finish is damaged, stains cling more easily, leading people to scrub even harder, which worsens the problem. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026 The problem worsens when residents keep windows closed at night for safety, effectively turning homes into ovens. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 Alcohol worsens sleep quality and dehydrates the body, while caffeine has a diuretic effect that encourages fluid loss and can raise body temperature. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Crowding behavior usually worsens during busier travel seasons, too, causing additional confusion around where the lines begin and end during boarding. — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 27 June 2026 From Montesquieu’s perspective, polarization worsens this appetite for disregarding constitutional norms. — Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Now, a study from researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the University of Virginia and Harvard University published in Science has raised a new concern that remote work worsens mental health. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsens
  1. deteriorates
  2. deepens
  3. descends
  4. intensifies
  5. crumbles
  6. complicates
  7. declines
  8. aggravates
Verb
  • The delivery was a glimmer of good news in a living situation that deteriorates by the day.
    — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
Definition of deteriorates
Verb
  • This offers free creative variations for small businesses but deepens brands' reliance on Meta's ecosystem, making the advertising 'frame' more costly despite free images.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The aluminum venture also deepens the relationship between IHC — chaired by Abu Dhabi’s deputy ruler Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed — and billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate, following IHC’s $2 billion investment in Adani companies in 2022.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of deepens
Verb
  • This is the leader who descends into the weeds, confirming every detail, not because the situation demands it but because something inside needs reassurance.
    — Karyn Gallant, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of descends
Verb
  • Indeed, the administration’s assault on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act intensifies the damage.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • If employees are expected to produce the same output in less time without better systems in place, the pressure simply intensifies.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of intensifies
Verb
  • That is the moment that everything crumbles for Rachel.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
  • Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of crumbles
Verb
  • His unique contract, featuring a high salary, an opt-out clause, and a no-trade clause, complicates any potential move.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Strict government oversight complicates OpenAI's and Anthropic's attempts to go public.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 3 July 2026
Definition of complicates
Verb
  • Many international students pay full tuition, turning them an increasingly important source of revenue as domestic enrollment declines.
    — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Alan Jackson declines comment With that, the judge left the bench, taking no comment or questions from the lawyers present.
    — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of declines
Verb
  • What’s clear is that obesity aggravates matters.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 June 2026
  • Mercury aggravates Jupiter, intensifying your vulnerability in creative or romantic situations.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of aggravates

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worsening
worsens
worship
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Cite this Entry

“Worsens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsens. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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