worsening 1 of 2

noun

as in deterioration

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worsening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of worsen
1
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value the condition of the house worsened with every year of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deepening
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 worsening
Noun
The most active group had less worsening of those motor symptoms than the least active group. — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 Faster diagnosis can help people with early-stage Alzheimer’s qualify for drugs that can modestly slow the worsening of their symptoms. — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Indonesia has pledged to keep subsidized fuel prices unchanged through 2026, which may strain the budget if oil prices rise again due to supply disruptions or a worsening of military confrontations. — Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 Troubling statistics While many of Kraepelin’s observations were spot on, his views on the disorder causing inevitable worsening were incorrect. — Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 The filing is backed by a Phase 3 study that showed the drug resulted in significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival over standard chemotherapy, along with delayed worsening of pain and quality of life. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 23 July 2026 Limited evidence suggests that people with genetic deficiencies of CoQ10 who abruptly stop taking it can experience a worsening of kidney function. — Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 16 June 2026 For example, stopping antidepressants or anxiety medication can lead to severe worsening of the condition or potentially dangerous withdrawals. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 People with postexertional malaise, the worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion, may be at a higher risk for adverse effects from the therapy, Faghy and Putrino point out. — Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 1 June 2026
Verb
The worsening crisis in the Caribbean country of nearly 12 million people is blamed on a surge in gang violence and displacement, combined with high food and fuel prices and an extreme El Niño weather phenomenon that is threatening food security. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 The panel suggested at least a 1 percentage point state income tax surcharge on high incomes, saying Connecticut could raise considerable revenue this way and reverse worsening income and wealth inequality. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026 While there is not yet a cure for MS, there are more than 20 therapies that can help reduce disease activity and slow worsening for many people living with MS. — Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026 Both will, however, face the same economic challenge at home — a worsening fiscal outlook and growing difficulty servicing the country’s debt, as well as increasing economic precariousness among much of the population. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 The result was a cascade of challenges, including the state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, declaring bankruptcy over its role in the deadly Camp fire in Paradise in 2018, and a worsening home insurance crisis that is still taking shape. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Matt Randall, deputy director of Placer County Public Works, said the sinkholes are a symptom of a worsening problem. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The extraordinary closures follow unprecedented demonstrations in France, some of which have turned violent or led to property damage, as citizens protest broken schools, the rising cost of living, and worsening public services. — News Desk, Artforum, 22 Oct. 2026 Residents are worried about how data centers will affect power and water supplies, as well as worsening noise pollution. — Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worsening
  1. deterioration
  2. deteriorating
  3. deepening
  4. weakening
  5. crumbling
  6. intensifying
  7. failing
  8. declining
Noun
  • International monitors have warned of a deterioration in political rights and civil liberties worldwide.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Milder temperatures and heavy rainstorms have led to more deterioration and flooding on streets and sidewalks.
    — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Verb
  • The referendum would authorize Miami to issue $450 million in general obligation bonds to repair or replace deteriorating police and fire-rescue facilities, including construction of a new public safety building near Miami Freedom Park.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Declining industrial demand can make the electricity balance sheet look healthier, when the reality is that the economy is deteriorating under the pressure of relentless attacks.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • David Roche, a veteran strategist at Quantum Strategy & Geonomics, said the Arctic's importance lies less in its potential to transform global shipping than in the deepening economic dependence between Russia and China.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Matthew Tan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Over the weekend, political leaders from Marsabit County warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis that could overwhelm host communities already struggling with food and water shortages worsened by climate change.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of deepening
Noun
  • The hurricane center said the storm's intensity could fluctuate over the next few days but would likely maintain hurricane strength through Thursday, with gradual weakening forecast thereafter.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The networks learn to recognize patterns by strengthening and weakening connections between nodes in response to training data.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • Nearly a third of its education budget is eaten up by pensions, so its poorer schools are crumbling.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In Frankfurt, a gray city crumbling at the corners and still finding its footing after the war, though somehow doing its best to pretend all is well, Mann and Erika are greeted by the mayor and hustled off to a press conference.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • Porsche's China sales have fallen sharply in recent years amid intensifying competition from brands such as BYD, Geely and Xiaomi.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Mose, a former Norwegian judge, said the intensifying attacks as this winter approaches raise serious concerns about the threats posed to civilians.
    — Edith M. Lederer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of intensifying
Noun
  • In the documentation, the company is candid about its failings.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Army report highlighted how the air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport could have prevented the crash, but also acknowledged the military’s own failings and other contributing factors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of failing
Verb
  • China was once a key profit center for Volkswagen, but now the company faces declining demand for cars there on top of fierce price competition from local carmakers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Search growth is declining, and Google is placing all its eggs in the AI basket.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of declining

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Cite this Entry

“Worsening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worsening. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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