worsen
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse.
worsened
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past participleof worsen.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof worsen.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
worsenverb (used with or without object)to make or become worse.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I don’t talk and think Slavery all the time,” Shaw told his dismayed parents as the secession crisis worsened.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
This year’s flu season may be worsened by a mutation in the H3N2 strain, particularly in people younger than 25, according to Gounder.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
Renewed fighting between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan rebels has worsened regional tensions, with Ethiopia and Eritrea breaking diplomatic ties on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Given the fact that these problems have only worsened in the six years since the film’s release, the conclusion is pragmatically bleak.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
My nightly mountains of homework made the Tower of Babel look like a toothpick, and it was only worsened by my late shifts at Finnegan’s.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
