WORSEN Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

worsen

verb

ˈwər-sᵊn

Definition of worsen

as in to deteriorate

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

as in to aggravate

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 worsen To worsen matters, the tent’s only electrolyte analyzer was backlogged and every vital-signs monitor was in use. — Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026 Frequent use of online sports betting increases the likelihood that a household files for bankruptcy and worsens debt delinquency. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026 That's important in late 2026, when PC shipments are down, and component prices have only worsened in recent months. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026 The case accused school officials of unreasonably exposing McNair to the risk of heatstroke, failing to recognize the initial symptoms and inadequately providing medical care and treatment, thus worsening McNair’s condition. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worsen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsen

Verb

Meanwhile, at the celebratory crew dinner, the we’re-all-in-this-together vibe starts to deteriorate.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Her condition deteriorated rapidly over the following 48 hours.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Verb

Unfortunately, Delane aggravated a shoulder injury on that play and was unable to return to action in that game, the season opener at Arrowhead.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
The Yankees are also cautious about Judge on a turf field, which could further aggravate the injury.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of aggravate

Verb

The neighborhood This is one of Bangkok’s oldest districts, where street kitchens still dish up 100-year-old family recipes and crumbling shophouses line the road.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Plague death exposes Putin's crumbling grip as war and economy spiral downward.

— , FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese President To Lam met in Canberra last month, pledging to deepen their partnership on issues like defense and trade.

— Shibani Mahtani, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
What’s more, its growth runway could widen materially as the Huntsville, Alabama, company deepens its relationships with disruptive defense innovator Anduril Industries and space-launch leader SpaceX .

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of deepen

Verb

As the town and its residents descend into chaos after a massive iceberg emerges from the water, Calvin realizes it might all be connected to his father’s accident.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
The statement said the weapon separated from its booster rocket at the planned altitude, then descended and maneuvered both vertically and horizontally before hitting a test target.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their aerial assaults as progress along the 750-mile front line has largely ground to a halt.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Another major challenge is intensifying domestic competition and labor shortages as Japan’s birth rate declines and its population ages, Nagai said.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of intensify

Verb

When Albin returned to the question of which country posed the greater threat to American interests, el Sayed again declined to choose between them, arguing that both had demonstrated the capacity to cause harm.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Courtesy of Heineken, 2026 Caton declined to say how many European jobs will go, citing ongoing consultation with staff and the European Works Council.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

The war in Iran has driven diesel prices up and lowered supply, but Russia and Ukraine’s targeting of one another’s energy infrastructure has further exacerbated the issue.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Mainstream political parties previously avoided publicly advocating for a return to the European Union out of concern over alienating voters in pro Brexit regions and exacerbating societal polarization.

— , CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of exacerbate

Browse Nearby Words

worse

worsen

worsened

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“Worsen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsen. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of worsen

verb

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