worsen

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈwɜːrsən/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈwɝsən/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(wûr′sən)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
wor•sen /ˈwɜrsən/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. to (cause to) become worse: [no object]The economy has worsened.[~ + object]Those measures will worsen the economy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
wors•en  (wûr′sən),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i. 
  1. to make or become worse.
  • Middle English worsenen. See worse, -en1 1175–1225
    decline, deteriorate, slip, sink.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
worsen / ˈwɜːsən/
  1. to grow or cause to grow worse
'worsen' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
aggrieve - alter - ameliorate - amend - degenerate - degrade - deteriorate - exacerbate - exasperate - improve - rectify - remedy - sour
Collocations: worsen [progressively, slowly, rapidly, considerably, slightly] , the [condition, depression, economy] is worsening, worsen over [time, days], more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "worsen" in the title:


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