worse

[ wurs ]

/ wɜrs /

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See synonyms for worse on Thesaurus.com

adjective, comparative of bad and ill, withworst as superlative.

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

more unfavorable or injurious.

in less good condition; in poorer health.

noun

that which is worse.

adverb

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

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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; see war²

Words nearby worse

worrit, worry, worry beads, worryguts, worrywart, worse, worse for wear, worsen, worser, worset, worship

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use worse in a sentence

I would say that changing Section 230 would actually make those problems even worse, because you’re going to start to provide incentives for platforms to moderate less.
Twenty-Six Words Created the Internet. What Will It Take to Save It?|Stephen Engelberg|February 9, 2021|ProPublica
Though we seemed to crest this wave a few weeks ago, epidemiologists are concerned that the upcoming holiday season and the travel and small gatherings that accompany it, could make the surge even worse.
The US has topped 400,000 COVID-19 deaths|Sara Chodosh|January 20, 2021|Popular-Science
The pandemic has ravaged the local economy and could make the situation even worse.
7 Big Promises and Priorities From Gloria’s State of the City Address|Lisa Halverstadt and MacKenzie Elmer|January 14, 2021|Voice of San Diego
If it spreads here, it will make an already-bad situation even worse.
We may have only weeks to act before a variant coronavirus dominates the US|Stephanie Arnett|January 13, 2021|MIT Technology Review

Meanwhile, climate change is making existing deficiencies worse.
Battling America’s ‘dirty secret’|Sarah Kaplan|December 17, 2020|Washington Post
A Republican candidate hoping to win red state support could find a worse team to root for than one from Dallas.
Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug?|Matt Lewis|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Among whites, the situation is also bad — in some ways, even worse.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The headaches, fevers (and worse) you may experience on Thursday are nothing new.
History's Craziest Hangover Cures|Justin Jones|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or is it simply that what you are hearing and seeing about race in the media seems worse?
Obama Is Right on Race. The Media Is Wrong.|Keli Goff|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Worse still is how much of this is being made into performance.
Public Marriage Proposals Must Die|Tauriq Moosa|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Conditions in the new country had gone from bad to worse, and if the season should experience another drought, the worst was come.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
He saw that the situation was worse than even he had bargained for, and all his irresolution began to return upon him.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Hence, shortage of ammunition and shortage of water, which last was the worse felt to-day.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
“Alas, mon bon Monsieur, it goes from bad to worse,” sighed the old man.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Lyn was looking at me intently, and her voice was steady; that squeezed kind of steadiness that is almost worse than tears.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for worse

worse

/ (wɜːs) /

adjective

the comparative of bad 1

none the worse for not harmed by (adverse events or circumstances)

the worse for wear

shabby or worn
a slang term for drunk

worse luck! informal unhappily; unfortunately

worse off (postpositive) in a worse, esp a worse financial, condition

noun

something that is worse

for the worse into a less desirable or inferior state or conditiona change for the worse

go from bad to worse to deteriorate even more

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with worse

worse

In addition to the idiom beginning with worse

worse for wear

also see:

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)

Also see underworst.

worse

Origin of worse

Words nearby worse

Words related to worse

How to use worse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for worse

Word Origin for worse

Other Idioms and Phrases with worse