worst-case

[wurst-keys]

adjective

1. of the worst possibility; being the worst result that could be expected under the circumstances.

   a worst-case scenario.

worst case

noun

1. 1. a situation in which the most unfavourable conditions prevail

   2. ( as modifier )

      a worst-case projection of a massive accident

Word History and Origins

Origin of worst-case¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

WARSAW—For more than a decade, Poland has prepared for the worst-case scenario: becoming the front line in a war between Russia and the West.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While much of Europe was left hoping that would be the end of Russian aggression on the continent, Polish war planners spent a year analyzing the worst-case scenarios before they set out a series of reforms to expand the military, rapidly increasing the number of troops and boosting their tool kit.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

We do know that, looking at historical averages, the stock market will continue to head north, even if there is a significant downturn that could take months or, in a worst-case scenario, years to recover from.

Read more on MarketWatch

In a recent conversation, Long asked Jin about the risk that a worst-case scenario would come to pass, with all of the church’s leadership rounded up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We’re seeing that worst-case scenario play out where a number of grocers have decided it’s not worth it to keep the self-checkout lanes open.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absolute 
• all-out 
• sheer 
• ultimate 
• unconditional