worsen

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /wɔːsn̩/ UK /ˈwɜːsn̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #34906

Meanings

1

verb
To become worse.

The weather worsened as the night went on.
2

verb
To make something worse.

Cutting the budget will only worsen the situation.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to become worse. decline deteriorate

2 verb · to make something worse. aggravate exacerbate

More atrophy confound crack degenerate devolve fade lapse molder pejorate retrograde

Opposites

ameliorate better improve

Word family

Forms worsenedworsens

Related forms aggravate bad deteriorated

Etymology

From Middle English wursnen; equivalent to worse + -en.

wursnen Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

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