worsen
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse.
worsened
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past participleof worsen.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof worsen.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
worsenverb (used with or without object)to make or become worse.
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.
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
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
Large holdings of government debt by domestic banks worsened Italy’s financial dramas in the 2010s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
He said last month that imaging suggested the slight tear in his UCL hadn’t worsened since 2022.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 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
