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

Relevance

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 Winds will worsen once the area of low pressure that will become the coastal storm starts to develop off the North Carolina coast Sunday. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 The deaths came as Indonesia intensified efforts to combat forest and land fires that have worsened this year as El Niño intensifies a prolonged dry season. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Those facts do not mean that criminal penalties alone caused Colorado’s worsening trend. — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 Assaults like this one are becoming more common in the West Bank, where settler violence — which is currently targeting the ongoing olive harvest — has worsened. — Cameron Peters, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worsen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsen

Verb

Such a summit would be unprecedented and deeply alarming to Ukraine’s European allies, particularly as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorate.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
The situation deteriorated further after the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 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

By Saturday night, Long Beach reported that seawater had entered homes and into streets, with the city’s Peninsula neighborhood being hard hit, and its boardwalk crumbling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
As Ray goes down the rabbit hole, the shiny facade of Metropia and Megamax (which is, notably and obviously evil from the start) begin to crumble.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

While security is by far the most pressing priority, new projections from the IMF have revealed the war’s deepening economic toll.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Washington, for its part, is creating friction in many of its partnerships instead of deepening them, and risks squandering its network just as its adversaries are learning to make more of theirs.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of deepen

Verb

But this morning an air of foreboding awakened me, and my little fishing barometer was already descending past the 29 mark.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Authorities say Riek and his passengers were flying to Menominee from Kenosha, and the NTSB said Riek reported icing on the wings and needed to descend.

— Frankie McLister, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

Russia has also intensified attacks on Ukraine's transport infrastructure, including road border crossings, railways and shipping routes, Derkach said.

— Elsa Ohlen,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
Support for separation intensified among some Albertans following COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.

— Sheena Rossiter, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of intensify

Verb

The British Antarctic Survey researchers emphasize that future losses could be exacerbated if emissions are not reduced.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
The Santa Ana winds and hot temperatures have exacerbated fire danger in Southern California and forecasters say gusts will likely strengthen.

— Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 16 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of worsen

verb

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