Library / English Dictionary

WORSEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Grow worse

Example:

Conditions in the slum worsened

Synonyms:

decline; worsen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "worsen" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "worsen"):

inflame (become inflamed; get sore)

come down; sicken (get sick)

degenerate; deteriorate; devolve; drop (grow worse)

deprive; impoverish (take away)

fail (get worse)

tumble (suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat)

drop away; drop off; fall away; slip; suffer (get worse)

lose; suffer (be set at a disadvantage)

regress; retrograde; retrogress (get worse or fall back to a previous condition)

turn down (take a downward direction)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Antonym:

better (get better)

Derivation:

worsening (process of changing to an inferior state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make worse

Example:

This drug aggravates the pain

Synonyms:

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "worsen" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "worsen"):

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

inflame (cause inflammation in)

cheapen; degrade (lower the grade of something; reduce its worth)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

better (to make better)

Derivation:

worsening (changing something with the result that it becomes worse)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The scientists found that 77 of the 229 participants (34%) in the 5-day treatment group experienced worsening symptoms and signs of infection, compared to 39 of 238 (16%) in the 10-day treatment group.

(No benefit to shortening ear infection treatment, NIH)

They found that “turning on” MCH cells during retention worsened memory whereas turning the cells off improved memories.

(The brain may actively forget during dream sleep, National Institutes of Health)

Rare tumors called pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas may cause the same symptoms as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, leading to inappropriate treatment that could worsen their symptoms and potentially endanger their health.

(Rare cancers may masquerade as ADHD in children, NIH)

As they worsen, grasping objects can become difficult.

(Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Animal studies also pointed to an effect of high blood sugar in worsening stroke injury.

(Researchers get a handle on how to control blood sugar after stroke, National Institutes of Health)

There was no evidence that the children’s hearing loss had worsened over this time, suggesting instead that a functional reorganisation was occurring.

(Mild-to-moderate hearing loss in children leads to changes in how brain processes sound, University of Cambridge)

It can cause coughing, throat irritation, worsening of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

(Ozone, Environmental Protection Agency)

Some people with MD have mild cases that worsen slowly.

(Muscular Dystrophy, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Supplementation of immunoglobulins is needed to prevent worsening outcomes.

(Hypogammaglobulinemia, NCI Thesaurus)

Many current treatments for neurodegenerative conditions actually aim to enhance cell clearance, which may worsen rather than improve neurodegenerative symptoms, making the need for new treatment strategies an urgent priority.

(New Mechanisms Found of Cell Death in Neurodegenerative Disorders, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)