Meaning & Definition of word "Worsen"

Worsen

/ˈwɜːrsən/

verb:

  • 1. to make or become worse; to deteriorate.
    • Example: The weather is expected to worsen over the weekend.
  • 2. to increase in severity or intensity.
    • Example: His condition began to worsen after the treatment was discontinued.
  • 3. to make a situation more difficult or undesirable.
    • Example: The new policy could worsen the economic challenges faced by small businesses.
  • 4. to reduce in quality or value.
    • Example: If we do not address pollution, the quality of air could worsen significantly.

Etymology

The word 'worsen' is derived from 'worse' + '-en', a suffix indicating to make or become.

Common Phrases and Expressions

worsen the situation:

to make a bad situation worse

worsen over time:

to progressively become worse

worsen as time goes on:

to deteriorate more and more over time

Related Words

worse:

a comparative form of bad, indicating a lower quality or level

deterioration:

the process of becoming progressively worse

decline:

a gradual and continuous loss of strength, value, or quality

Slang Meanings of worsen

Meaning: Get worse

Example Sentence: His attitude toward the project just keeps getting worse.

Meaning: Screw up

Example Sentence: If we don't fix this, it's gonna screw up the whole launch.