worsen
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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worsens,
present (3rd person singular)
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worsened,
past participle, past
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worsening
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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worsensimple
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worsenssimple
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have worsenedperfect
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has worsenedperfect
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am worseningprogressive
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are worseningprogressive
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is worseningprogressive
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have been worseningperfect progressive
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has been worseningperfect progressive
Past
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worsenedsimple
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had worsenedperfect
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was worseningprogressive
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were worseningprogressive
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had been worseningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of worsen
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English wersnen “to deteriorate”; see origin at worse, -en 1
Explanation
When things go from terrible to even more terrible, they worsen. If your sore throat worsens, you should call the doctor. If something gets worse, you can say that it worsens. So if the rain that started as a misty drizzle begins to grow torrential, threatening to ruin the picnic you've planned, the weather worsens. And if there's less money in your piggy bank every day, your financial situation worsens. The verb worsen shares a root with war, the Old Saxon werran, meaning "to entangle."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They also warned it could worsen the UK's skills shortage, particularly in the care sector.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
"If you're in a mental health crisis you might find a policeman turning up extremely frightening and it might worsen the situation," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
If big storms emerge during those king tide events around Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holidays, they will further worsen the coastal flooding risk, scientists warn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
The company also risks pressure from credit-card processors which can require airlines to set aside collateral if financial conditions worsen, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Dr. Fiona explained that the surgery had been a success but that I had developed an infection and that my condition had started to worsen.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
Extreme heat is particularly dangerous to people with existing health conditions, as it worsens many conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and dementia.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Jane Campbell, a peer in the House of Lords upper chamber, struggles to speak naturally due to spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that worsens over time.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Malcolm says “orthosomnia”—where chasing the perfect score worsens sleep—is real.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
In the future, regular genomic tests could allow clinicians to identify high-risk patients years before their disease worsens.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
I clench my teeth through the pain as the burning sensation on my neck worsens, but then it starts to die down.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
“The program’s long-run outlook worsened significantly this year,” it said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2026
All of this is having a discernible impact nationwide, as Pew Research found U.S. adults’ attitudes toward Islam have worsened since 9/11.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
Crypto has long been a favored target of sophisticated hackers, but the pace and severity has worsened this year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Both men encountered the retired English teacher again at their next prison, Pakino, where Shyshko says Hubbard's condition worsened.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
It was a bitterly cold day, worsened by the wind that lifted the papers along the block and sent them flying across Malcolm X Boulevard.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
"After a summit of record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires and school closures, Britain is now facing worsening droughts," the paper says, with the headline declaring: "Climate crisis is here".
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026
The new findings suggest that including full-fat dairy in a balanced diet may help people meet these nutritional requirements without necessarily worsening cholesterol levels or markers associated with diabetes risk.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Last month, the automaker cut its expectations for the year, warning of a worsening market in China and higher costs in the fourth quarter, including for raw materials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
He also lowered his estimates for Qualcomm’s December quarter, citing a “markedly worsening environment” as a result of high memory prices.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
She warns that conditions are worsening and a Level 3 alert has been called.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
