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to worsen

to worsen

61 3.9
To make a situation or condition less good
  • verb
  • /ˈwɜːrsən/
translation icon : empeorar
  • Ignoring the problem will only worsen the situation for everyone involved.
  • worsen the situation
  • worsen the condition
  • worsen health

Do you see any way in which fast track might worsen that situation?

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Examples

  • If I know that purchasing this item here is actually bad for other people, it worsens their condition.

  • The researchers predict that health risks will continue to rise as hot and dry conditions that fuel wildfires will continue to worsen with climate change.

  • Do you see any way in which fast track might worsen that situation?

  • But another one does it help my quality of life or does it worsen my quality of life?

  • His measures just worsen the situation as income decreases faster than spending can be reduced.

  • Let's discuss in this video some medications that can actually lead to or worsen depression.

  • Unfortunately, filling in rivers can worsen flooding and water pollution problems.

  • The large number of immigrants worsened the housing and unemployment problems.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Gibson says things have worsened for injured workers in recent years, mostly through medical denials and delays.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After the summit meeting, the situation between Iraq and Kuwait worsened and was clearly leading toward confrontation.

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

to get worse
vsto worsen
390 2.5

To become more serious, often about health or a situation

can also mean to cause something to become more severe
to decline
vsto worsen
344 3.7

To become less over time, for example in value or health

focuses specifically on becoming or causing things to be more severe
to intensify
vsto worsen
110 4.0

Make something stronger or more intense

specifically implies causing harm or a more severe condition
to aggravate
vsto worsen
73 4.6

Make a problem or health condition worse

is the neutral term for both causing and becoming more severe
to exacerbate
vsto worsen
69 8.0

To make a problem or feeling worse

is the general verb usable for both causing and becoming more severe
to deepen
vsto worsen
52 3.6

Make a feeling or situation stronger

implies harm or negative change rather than only increased intensity
to make matters worse
vsto worsen
37 4.0

To cause a situation to become more difficult or unpleasant

is the single-word verb used for that same negative change
to exasperate
vsto worsen
1 8.9

Make a problem or feeling worse

is the common, widely used term for that effect
to worsify
vsto worsen
  • Informal
9.9

To make something worse

is the standard, neutral verb for the same change

Antonyms

1.0

To make something better

35 1.8

To improve something

11 8.1

To make a bad situation better

How Bad

to collapse
579 3.9
to degenerate
34 6.3
to worsen
61 3.9
to deteriorate
146 5.9
to decline
344 3.7

Surface Forms

worsen infinitive
worsened past
worsened past participle
worsening present participle
worsens third person singular

Morphology

worsen = worse (transparent) = worse + en

Formed from the comparative adjective 'worse' plus the common verb-forming suffix '-en', meaning 'to make or become more bad', which is predictable for learners.

Etymology

The word worsen comes from the common adjective worse, which means 'more bad', plus the verb ending -en that makes action words like brighten. So, worsen means 'to make more bad' or 'to become more bad'.