least worst
1
8.0
- adjective
:
menos malo
- As much as I prefer democracy over all other known systems of governance, it is, as Churchill once said, the least worst system.
But as an alternative, you know, I vote often for the least worst candidate.
- But as an alternative, you know, I vote often for the least worst candidate.
- So I still argue that that would be the least worst of the very bad alternatives that are facing the United States and Israel today.
Examples
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We may well have to choose between a range of least-worst options on many fronts.
Blog text (6) -
Krugman discusses how we are doing "the least worst among major economies."
Blog text (2) -
But as an alternative, you know, I vote often for the least worst candidate.
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Is this what we're reduced to, considering the least worst option?
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How long will we continue to vote for the least worst candidate?
Blog text (3) -
The other is the least worst option, given the power of the Greater Israel Lobby and US public opinion.
Blog text (20) -
As long as the GOP knows it is the least worst choice on national security, there is just no reason for them to change.
Blog text (3) -
I tend to go for whoever I think is the least worst candidate that election cycle.
Blog text (31) -
He is pointing out that in some situations, historically, symphysiotomy could be the least worst option.
Blog text (3) -
In difficult times, many people feel compelled to vote for the least worst candidate.
Synonyms
22
1.3
A choice that is most suitable among other choices
18
5.6
A choice that is less harmful when you have two bad options
How Bad
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the best or least objectionable choice among undesirable options' is directly derivable from combining 'least' (smallest degree) with 'worst' (most bad), i.e. the option that is the least bad. This compositional pattern (forming a minimal degree of a negative adjective) is regular in English and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Least worst comes from choosing between bad options: imagine a box of apples that are all a bit rotten and you pick the one that is least rotten rather than the worst. So least worst means the 'best' or 'least bad' choice among a group of bad options.