worse
[ wurs ]
/ wɜrs /
adjective, compar. of bad and ill.
noun
that which is worse.
adverb
in a more evil, wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner.
with more severity, intensity, etc.; in a greater degree.
QUIZZES
DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?
"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
Origin of worse
before 900; Middle English (adj., adv., and noun); Old English wiersa (comparative adj.), wiers (adv.); cognate with Old Norse verri, Gothic wairsiza; see war2
Words nearby worse
worrit, worry, worry beads, worryguts, worrywart, worse, worse for wear, worsen, worser, worset, worship
Definition for worse (2 of 4)
ill
[ il ]
/ ɪl /
adjective, worse, worst; ill·er, ill·est for 7.
noun
adverb
Origin of ill
1150–1200; Middle English ill(e) (noun and adj.) < Old Norse illr (adj.) ill, bad
synonym study for ill
1. Ill, sick mean being in bad health, not being well. Ill is the more formal word. In the U.S. the two words are used practically interchangeably except that sick is always used when the word modifies the following noun: He looks sick ( ill ); a sick person. In England, sick is not interchangeable with ill, but usually has the connotation of nauseous: She got sick and threw up. sick, however, is used before nouns just as in the U.S.: a sick man. 4. See bad1.
grammar notes for ill
See well1.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ill
ill sick1 (see synonym study at the current entry)Definition for worse (3 of 4)
bad1
[ bad ]
/ bæd /
adjective, worse, worst; (Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
noun
adverb Informal.
badly: He wanted it bad enough to steal it.
Origin of bad
11250–1300; Middle English badde, perhaps akin to Old English bæddel hermaphrodite, bædling womanish man
synonym study for bad
2. Bad, evil, ill, wicked are closest in meaning in reference to that which is lacking in moral qualities or is actually vicious and reprehensible. Bad is the broadest and simplest term: a bad man; bad habits. Evil applies to that which violates or leads to the violation of moral law: evil practices. Ill now appears mainly in certain fixed expressions, with a milder implication than that in evil: ill will; ill-natured. Wicked implies willful and determined doing of what is very wrong: a wicked plan.
usage note for bad
The adjective bad meaning “unpleasant, unattractive, unfavorable, spoiled, etc.,” is the usual form to follow such copulative verbs as sound, smell, look, and taste: After the rainstorm the water tasted bad. The coach says the locker room smells bad. After the copulative verb feel, the adjective badly in reference to physical or emotional states is also used and is standard, although bad is more common in formal writing: I feel bad from overeating. She felt badly about her friend's misfortune.
When the adverbial use is required, badly is standard with all verbs: She reacted badly to the criticism. Bad as an adverb appears mainly in informal contexts: I didn't do too bad on the tests. He wants money so bad it hurts. See also badly, good.
When the adverbial use is required, badly is standard with all verbs: She reacted badly to the criticism. Bad as an adverb appears mainly in informal contexts: I didn't do too bad on the tests. He wants money so bad it hurts. See also badly, good.
OTHER WORDS FROM bad
bad·ness, nounDefinition for worse (4 of 4)
badly
[ bad-lee ]
/ ˈbæd li /
adverb, worse, worst.
adjective
Origin of badly
usage note for badly
In the sense “very much,” badly is fully standard: He needs help badly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for worse
British Dictionary definitions for worse (1 of 5)
worse
/ (wɜːs) /
adjective
noun
adverb
in a more severe or unpleasant manner
in a less effective or successful manner
Word Origin for worse
Old English wiersa; related to Old Frisian werra, Old High German wirsiro, Old Norse verri, Gothic wairsiza
British Dictionary definitions for worse (2 of 5)
badly
/ (ˈbædlɪ) /
adverb worse or worst
adjective
(postpositive) Northern English dialect ill; poorly
British Dictionary definitions for worse (3 of 5)
ill
/ (ɪl) /
adjective worse or worst
noun
adverb
Word Origin for ill
C11 (in the sense: evil): from Old Norse illr bad
British Dictionary definitions for worse (4 of 5)
bad1
/ (bæd) /
adjective worse or worst
noun
adverb
not standard badlyto want something bad
Derived forms of bad
baddish, adjectivebadness, nounWord Origin for bad
C13: probably from bæd-, as the first element of Old English bǣddel hermaphrodite, bǣdling sodomite
British Dictionary definitions for worse (5 of 5)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for worse
ill
[ ĭl ]
adj.
Not healthy; sick.
Not normal, as a condition; unsound.
n.
A disease or illness, especially of animals.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with worse (1 of 3)
worse
Idioms and Phrases with worse (2 of 3)
bad
Idioms and Phrases with worse (3 of 3)
ill
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.