worse

American  

[wurs] / wɜrs /

adjective

1. bad or ill in a greater or higher degree; inferior in excellence, quality, or character.

2. more unfavorable or injurious.

3. in less good condition; in poorer health.

---

noun

1. that which is worse.

adverb

1. in a more evil, wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner.

2. with more severity, intensity, etc.; in a greater degree.

worse British  

/ wɜːs /

adjective

1. the comparative of bad 1

2. not harmed by (adverse events or circumstances)

3. 1. shabby or worn

   2. a slang term for drunk

4. informal unhappily; unfortunately

5. (postpositive) in a worse, esp a worse financial, condition

---

noun

1. something that is worse

2. into a less desirable or inferior state or condition

   a change for the worse

3. to deteriorate even more

adverb

1. in a more severe or unpleasant manner

2. in a less effective or successful manner

worse Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing worse

• all the (worse)
• bark is worse than one's bite
• fate worse than death
• for better or for worse
• from bad to worse
• if worst comes to worst
• none the worse
• take a turn for the better (worse)
• worst

---

Etymology

Origin of worse

First recorded before 900; Middle English (adjective, adverb, and noun); Old English wiersa (comparative adjective), wiers (adverb); cognate with Old Norse verri, Gothic wairsiza; war ²

Example Sentences

Current statistics predict that waiting times will get worse and over the next five years - as about 20,000 people will not start treatment on time.

From BBC

In a large international analysis, more than one third of hospitalized patients had cystatin C results that suggested kidney function was at least 30% worse than what their creatinine levels indicated.

From Science Daily

Falsified images and propaganda have been misleading people to worse ends for many years, but these recent shams are evidence of a culture-wide abandonment of a common reality.

From Salon

But given that it’s your inheritance and assuming you are providing the lion’s share of the investment, for better or for worse, your voice has more weight.

From MarketWatch

It’s not that there weren’t nice birds, but the worst bird was always worse than the worst lizard, Zeke thought.

From Literature

Related Words

• bad
• poor