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.
Since January, a US fuel embargo has worsened prolonged power and water cuts.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Political tension and the security crisis have worsened in Mali.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Dozens of Indonesian schools were shuttered for a second day Tuesday to protect against the spreading haze from wildfires at the start of a long and intense dry season worsened by El Nino.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
On Friday, the Ojai Raptor Center where Jackie is being cared for announced her blood values had fallen again, indicating her anemia had worsened.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 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
