How to Use worsen in a Sentence

worsen

verb
  • Spending more money is only going to worsen the problem.
  • Skin wounds or sores that worsen over time.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 June 2026
  • That will worsen the region’s drought.
    — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2026
  • This can worsen the injury Ice the area.
    — Eva Flowe june 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026
  • The playa is a source of dust that could worsen air pollution.
    — Evan Bush, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2023
  • Some projects need to go first so as not to worsen flooding for others.
    — Megan Stringer, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Feb. 2022
  • Those could worsen this weekend.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The food noise in my head grew louder, and my binging worsened.
    — Hunter Lacey, Allure, 26 Feb. 2026
  • The more alarming fact is that these symptoms may worsen over time.
    — Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law, Dallas News, 14 July 2023
  • If the person leans forward, does the pain worsen or lessen?
    — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The road ahead is uncertain, and prices could worsen if the war drags on.
    — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Over explains that her struggles with her teeth have worsened over time.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Over time, the pain can worsen and may become constant.
    — Lindsay Curtis, Health, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Some foods can contribute to or worsen loose stools.
    — Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Ten days out from the party, your daughter’s cold has worsened.
    — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
  • And the road is in shambles, worsened by truck traffic.
    — CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • And as climate change worsens, experts say the funds promised are not enough.
    — Sibi Arasu, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2023
  • On top of all of this, the pain from the cysts continues to worsen as time goes on.
    — Vicky Spratt, refinery29.com, 4 Apr. 2022
  • But when done poorly, the projects can worsen the very problems they were meant to solve.
    — New York Times, 14 Mar. 2022
  • But having a back-up plan in place, if things should worsen, is never a bad idea.
    — Morten Jensen, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
  • Anything that weakens fibers can worsen pilling.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Sleeves can cause or worsen hiatal hernias.
    — Amber Gaudet updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
  • In recent years, the problem has worsened.
    — Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
  • This is worsened during peak mid-day hours and the summer season.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2023
  • These numbers worsen the already large racial wealth gap in the country.
    — Neha Mirchandani, Forbes, 2 June 2021
  • This will continue to worsen if the tariffs stay in place.
    — Alex Durante, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • As her symptoms rapidly worsened, a rather brusque doctor was called to our house.
    — Patti Newton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Doctors warn that powering through it can worsen the health toll.
    — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2022
  • This means that the drought which has pulled back a little bit will remain in place and may even worsen once again.
    — Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022
  • Patients who want the treatment shouldn’t wait to see if their symptoms worsen.
    — Skyler Swisher, orlandosentinel.com, 15 Oct. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'worsen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: