worsen

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈwɜːsən/ 🇺🇸 /ˈwɜrsən/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To make or become worse; to deteriorate in quality, condition, or severity.; To cause something to become more severe, intense, or serious.; To make something less favorable or more disadvantageous.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: worsens Past: worsened Past part.: worsened Pres part.: worsening

Collocations

worsen the situationworsen over timeworsen conditionsworsen symptomsworsen the problem

Derivatives

worseworstworsening

Synonyms

deteriorateaggravateexacerbatedegradedecline

Antonyms

improveamelioratebetter

Commonly confused

worse
EN: 'worse' is the comparative adjective/adverb; 'worsen' is the verb meaning to make or become worse.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'worsen' ends with '-en' (like 'harden', 'soften'), not '-on' or '-in'.

💬 Examples

  1. The patient's condition worsened overnight despite the treatment.

  2. The heavy rain worsened the flooding in the low-lying areas.

  3. His rude comments only worsened the already tense situation.