worst 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of worstnext
as in worse

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Dissimilar Words

worst

2 of 2

verb

as in to best
to achieve a victory over how humiliating for a tennis champ to be worsted by a player no one had ever heard of

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 worst
Adjective
But all of that would’ve been forgiven if Golden State’s offense didn’t cool down at the worst possible time. — C.j. Holmes, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2023 Continue below to see the top 10 best and worst cities for football fans in 2023. — Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2023 What happened next amounted to the worst time in Nolan’s 42-year career at DCAD, including the past 18 years as chief appraiser. — Dallas News, 3 Feb. 2023 Balloons are a key business driver for Party City, and this cut into sales at the worst time. — Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for worst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worst
  1. worse
  2. best
  3. lesser
  4. defeat
  5. normal
  6. overcome
  7. master
  8. beat
Adjective
  • In the meantime, practicing some good nail care habits recommended by the National Psoriasis Foundation can help keep nail psoriasis from getting worse.
    — Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2023
  • Donovan looked to the four-point deficit with a sense of relief — things could be much, much worse.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2023
Definition of worse
Verb
  • Though the Hoosiers bested the Buckeyes in last year’s Big Ten Championship and won the title, Ohio State remains the Big Ten standard.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • As the unsuccessful regime-change effort in Iran demonstrated, there are no shortcuts to besting the axis countries, together or individually.
    — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of best
Adjective
  • Even lesser-scale incidents like the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal and the Volkswagen emissions scandal erode trust in the institutions that help make our society possible and push it forward.
    — Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toronto’s Fred VanVleet appears to be the top target, but Miami’s Kyle Lowry, Utah’s Mike Conley and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier have been linked to the team at various points.
    — Staff Writer Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023
Definition of lesser
Verb
  • Jackson was suspended for striking Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb in the face after the Bills defeated the Rams, 37-34, in overtime on Monday night.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Voters, though, decisively defeated a repeal measure in 1942.
    — Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat
Adjective
  • With stimulus checks gone and student loan payments back, Maggiulli suggests the drop may partly be a return to normal.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In both cases, people with pre-existing hypertension experienced bigger drops in systolic and diastolic pressure than those with normal blood pressure.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of normal
Verb
  • For now, the study identifies a previously underappreciated part of the immune system that could help overcome one of SCLC’s most persistent defenses.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But Gordon has emerged as Miami’s clear lead back, capable of overcoming a poor situation.
    — Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The 73-year-old (74 as of Sunday) mastered his craft at a time when the tale had to be told in 22 minutes, with the anxious knowledge that should any of those minutes lag, viewers would simply switch channels.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of master
Verb
  • For founders sitting atop a mountain of stock, that beats selling shares, paying tax, and then giving away the cash.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The defense has exceeded expectations and continues to cement itself as a top-20, maybe even a top-15 defense, while the offense remains a disappointment, even after beating the Bears (4-2, 2-1).
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of beat

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Cite this Entry

“Worst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worst. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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