The Collaborative Dictionary

Worsen \Wors"en\, v. t.

To make worse; to deteriorate; to impair. [1913 Webster] It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened. --Southey. [1913 Webster]

To get the better of; to worst. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Worsen \Wors"en\, v. i. To grow or become worse. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster] Indifferent health, which seemed rather to worsen than improve. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]

Word Net

worsen

1 grow worse; "Conditions in the slum worsened" [syn: decline] [ant: better]

2 make worse; "This drug aggravates the pain" [syn: aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate] [ant: better]

Moby Thesaurus

accommodate, adapt, adjust, agent provocateur, aggravate, alter, ameliorate, amplify, annoy, augment, be changed, be converted into, be renewed, better, blast, blight, bottom out, break, break up, build up, change, checker, chop, chop and change, come about, come around, come round, convert, corrupt, damage, debase, decline, deepen, deform, degenerate, degrade, denature, descend, deteriorate, deviate, dilapidate, disimprove, disintegrate, diverge, diversify, embitter, endamage, enhance, enlarge, exacerbate, exasperate, fall back, fit, flop, foul, get worse, grow worse, harm, haul around, heat up, heighten, hot up, humble, hurt, impair, improve, increase, injure, intensify, irritate, jibe, let down, lower, magnify, make acute, make worse, meliorate, mitigate, modify, modulate, mutate, overthrow, provoke, put back, qualify, re-create, realign, rebuild, reconstruct, redesign, refit, reform, regress, relapse, remake, renew, reshape, restructure, retrograde, retrogress, revamp, revive, ring the changes, rot, sharpen, shift, shift the scene, shuffle the cards, sicken, sink, slacken, slip back, sour, subvert, swerve, tack, taint, take a turn, turn, turn aside, turn into, turn the corner, turn the scale, turn the tables, turn the tide, turn upside down, undergo a change, vary, veer, warp, weaken, work a change

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)sən

Verb

1. To make worse.
   • The global warming has worsened the weather.
2. To become worse.
   • The weather has worsened.

Translations

• Czech: zhoršit
• German: verschlechtern, verschlimmern
• Dutch: verslechteren
• Swedish: förvärra (1), förvärras (2)