Looking up...
worsen
/ˈwɜːrsən/
to make something worse
The weather worsened as the storm approached.
The weather became worse as the storm got closer.
general
to make or become worse in quality, condition, or degree
His health worsened after the surgery.
His health condition deteriorated after the surgery.
The situation worsened when the negotiations broke down.
The situation became more difficult when the negotiations failed.
Often used with 'the situation', 'conditions', or 'health'.
Collocations
worsen the situationto make a problem more difficultworsen conditionsto make circumstances more unfavorable
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'worsen' to describe a decline in quality or condition, often with nouns like 'situation', 'health', or 'conditions'.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'worsen', from 'worse' + '-en' (a suffix forming verbs).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe negative changes.
Word Breakdown
worse
of lower quality or condition
root-en
to make or become
suffixEnglish Dictionary