How to Use worst-case in a Sentence

worst-case

adjective
  • But what would a worst-case scenario look like?
    — Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Not good, but nowhere near a worst-case scenario.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
  • In a worst-case scenario, the ship stops and gets stuck.
    — Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
  • The bridge fund has helped stave off that worst-case scenario — for now.
    — Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
  • How likely is that worst-case scenario?
    — Big Think, 4 Aug. 2025
  • What’s the best-case scenario in this worst-case scenario?
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
  • These worst-case outcomes can be avoided.
    — Jeremy Konyndyk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This worst-case scenario needs to be addressed but will not happen soon.
    — Bhopi Dhall and Saurajit Kanungo, Forbes, 17 July 2023
  • But in practice, worst-case proofs of algorithms are hard to achieve.
    — Dorit Dor, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • In worst-case scenarios, the ice punctures the hull.
    — Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
  • Thoughts race, filling in the blanks with worst-case scenarios.
    — Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
  • As of this writing, the odds of a worst-case scenario is around 1 in 5.
    — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The Eagles caught a glimpse of a worst-case scenario for their secondary.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Whoops, that was my worst-case scenario for the Niners, apologies!
    — Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Sanders himself later downplayed that risk as a worst-case scenario.
    — Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY, 28 June 2023
  • So enjoy the quiet anonymity of the next few weeks and, worst-case scenario, months.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Here are ways for people to prepare and respond in worst-case scenarios.
    — Hannah Sampson, Andrea Sachs and Sofia Andrade, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Aug. 2023
  • Not everyone is buying into the idea of a worst-case scenario.
    — Rebekah Evans, theweek, 5 Aug. 2024
  • But Tovar still envisioned a worst-case scenario with her ace at the plate.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • If the music stops in a worst-case scenario, everyone will suffer.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • For decades, oil market watchers have worried about the closure of the strait as a worst-case scenario.
    — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
  • But Canales’s worst-case scenarios also have come true, at least for the time being.
    — Sam Lubell, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Safety isn’t just about stopping worst-case scenarios.
    — Kevin Mullins, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • In a worst-case scenario, Blackburn can provide length when needed.
    — Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
  • For public media officials, the bill is a worst-case scenario.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
  • It's designed for worst-case scenarios during liftoff.
    — Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
  • No timeline was provided, but a worst-case scenario was avoided.
    — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The question isn’t how to design for best-case users, but how to make systems hold up under worst-case pressure.
    — Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The potential cuts represent a worst-case scenario if none of the budget hole is filled.
    — Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The happy ending was a welcome change of pace for deputies who often deal with worst-case scenarios.
    — Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 6 May 2024

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

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