for better or for worse

Idioms  

1. Under good or bad circumstances, with good or bad effect. For example, For better or for worse he trusts everyone. This term became widely familiar because it appears in the marriage service of the Book of Common Prayer (1549): “With this ring I thee wed, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part.” [Late 1300s]

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Example Sentences

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for better or for worse

There are, for better or for worse, some clear reasons to either cut a child out of your will or leave them an income with strict conditions in a special-needs trust.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

You, dear Salon reader, are discerning and responsible, ready to face the reality of the world we’re living in, for better or for worse.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

Meanwhile, the “market is looking through” the present administration’s policies for better or for worse, said Tracy Nolte, a portfolio manager at Advisors Asset Management.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

I could say that’s for better or for worse, but when I look back at my career and the audience I’ve built and the opportunities I’ve had — it’s been for the better.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2025

It’s the one thing about her parents’ lives she truly admires—their ability, for better or for worse, to turn their back on their homes.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri