WORSENS Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

worsens

verb

present tense third-person singular of worsen

as in deteriorates

to become worse or of less value the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deepens

to make more severe the harsh winter only worsened the fuel shortage

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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 Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that worsens over time. — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 French budget crisis worsens amid student protests France could be on the precipice of a financial crisis, as escalating student protests roiled an already shaky bond market. — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 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 Ask yourself what scenario is going to provide your brother with the best care, especially as his condition worsens and his needs change. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026 The musician, 60, sat down with Tamron Hall for a candid conversation about living with Parkinson’s disease, which affects the nervous system, can affect movement and often worsens over time. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 While the Science study found workers in remote-friendly jobs had higher levels of mental distress, other experts cautioned against the idea that remote work alone worsens mental health. — Cordilia James, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 Communities across Pennsylvania will need innovative solutions to promote flood resilience despite limited financial capacity as their levees continue to age, severe weather worsens and funding remains uncertain. — Kaleigh Yost, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026 Therefore, analysts note that if extreme weather worsens water and power scarcity, the impact could ripple through the entire semiconductor supply chain. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsens

Verb

As her brother Aldwin’s mental health deteriorates, Lil considers risking her future to travel to him.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Keep the effort easy enough that your movement quality improves rather than deteriorates.

— Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of deteriorates

Verb

Sigurd’s departure only deepens this cynicism, which Livia clings to for 27 years — until the pair reconnect on the phone for a truly excruciating conversation.

— Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 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 deepens

Verb

Dawn breaks over the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii as the Starship, now out of the re-entry heating zone, descends toward splashdown looking none the worse for the wear.

— William Harwood, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Beneath it, museumgoers line up to drop a ball into a teak ramp that descends down the length of the Guggenheim spiral.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of descends

Verb

The disclosure intensifies criticism of officials who dismissed concerns about sailors’ conditions as the administration offers no clear timeline for ending the war.

— Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Deforestation contributes to erosion, damages biodiverse areas, threatens wildlife and humans who rely on the forest, and intensifies disasters from extreme weather.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of intensifies

Verb

When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of crumbles

Verb

Iran war complicates interest rate debate Earlier this year, the FOMC wrestled with lowering rates versus holding them steady despite higher prices.

— Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
This high salt content complicates conventional whey processing, while the combination of salt and a large amount of organic material also makes simply dumping the stuff a bad idea.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of complicates

Verb

Hur’s film declines to name a culprit, and its detractors argue the open ending points the finger at Park Chung-hee or his government.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Don’t wait until performance declines to question your systems, structure or strategy.

— James Barlow, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of declines

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worsening

worsens

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

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Synonyms of worsens

verb

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