WORSENED Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

worsened

verb

past tense of worsen

as in deteriorated

to become worse or of less value the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in aggravated

to make more severe the harsh winter only worsened the fuel shortage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of worsened While turnover worsened sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage isn't new. — Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026 Rights groups and activists say repression has worsened in the period since. — Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026 Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that's dampening demand for Halloween treats. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 But conditions worsened in the Coastal Plain and northern Piedmont, data shows. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026 Chris Costagli, a vice president and food thought leader at NielsenIQ, said high gas prices have worsened Americans’ concerns about affordability, and that’s dampening demand for Halloween treats. — Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 Insecurity, which has worsened around the country, is also set to figure as a major point of contention. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Mike McDaniel’s implementation of his wide-zone offense hasn’t gone well, and the situation has worsened as injuries along the offensive line have piled up. — Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026 Tensions in the Middle East worsened , two September inflation reports came in hotter than expected , and the durability of the AI spending boom has been called further into question. — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsened

Verb

Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant, experts have accused Israel of genocide, and Israel’s image has further deteriorated with a spike in settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

— Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Medical examinations initially revealed no major injury, but his condition deteriorated.

— Lance B. Fulford, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorated

Verb

The company crumbled after John Carreyrou, then a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, broke the story in 2015 that Theranos wasn’t using its own technology to run most of its blood tests.

— Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2026
In the southwestern town of Limoges, the city hall’s 19th-century bell tower crumbled under a mass of flames.

— Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of crumbled

Verb

But as the other two phases descended into disaster for USC (6-2, 3-2), its defense could only hold for so long.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Rather than entering a lower orbit and remaining there for several days before re-entry, the rocket stage may have descended immediately.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of descended

Verb

The friction has deepened since co-founder Reed Hastings stepped away from management, handing the reins in January 2023 to Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, who share the job of chief executive.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
The crisis at Manchester United deepened with a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League, while Italian champion Inter Milan needed two goals in stoppage time to regain the Serie A lead.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of deepened

Verb

But Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, widely viewed as a potential top contender for the position, has declined to pledge not to run.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Aguilar declined to take the rest of the day off but then activated the fire alarm system after the meeting and tried to leave the building.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of declined

Verb

Their decisions may be complicated by elections in Israel and the US, which could kickstart a return to conflict in the Middle East and drive energy prices even higher.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Bussard cares for her 42-year-old son, Alex, who has complicated medical needs since surviving a brain tumor and brain hemorrhage.

— Stephanie Dhue,Sharon Epperson, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of complicated

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“Worsened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsened. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of worsened

verb

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