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worsen

[ wur-suhn ]
/ ˈwɜr sən /
||
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verb (used with or without object)

to make or become worse.

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RELATED WORDS

depress, lower, aggravate, decline, damage, exacerbate, impair, deteriorate, retrogress, disintegrate, corrode, sink, degenerate, retrograde, rot, descend

Nearby words

  1. worryguts,
  2. worrying,
  3. worrywart,
  4. worse,
  5. worse for wear,
  6. worser,
  7. worset,
  8. worship,
  9. worship the ground someone walks on,
  10. worshipful

Origin of worsen

First recorded in 1175–1225, worsen is from the Middle English word worsenen. See worse, -en1
Can be confusedaggravate annoy intensify irritate worsen (see synonym study at aggravate)aggravation annoyance intensification irritation worsening
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for worsen

British Dictionary definitions for worsen

worsen

/ (ˈwɜːsən) /

verb

to grow or cause to grow worse
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
Word Origin and History for worsen

worsen

v.

"to make worse," Old English wyrsian, from the root of worse. The reflexive sense of "to get worse, become worse off" first attested 1795 and elevated into literary use c.1800-30, where formerly worse (v.) had served. Related: Worsened; worsening.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper