Meaning & use
worser
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparabledialectinformal
A non-standard double comparative meaning worse, found in dialect, old writing and children's speech.
Grammar: Avoid in standard writing; use worse instead.
The little boy said his cold was worser today.
In the old play, a character complains of a worser fate.
Teachers correct 'worser' to 'worse' in student essays.
adjectivecomparablehumorous
Used on purpose for humor or to imitate a nonstandard way of talking.
Grammar: Often used in jokes or quoted speech.
He joked that his cooking was bad, but his singing was even worser.
The comedian used 'worser' for a laugh.
Common combinations
- worser than
- The child said the soup was worser than medicine.
- even worser
- The comic said things could get even worser.
- a worser fate
- The old line spoke of a worser fate.
- say 'worser'
- Some young children say 'worser' while learning grammar.
- correct 'worser' to 'worse'
- The editor corrected 'worser' to 'worse'.
Synonyms and how they differ
- worse
- Worse is the correct standard comparative of bad, and nearly always the right choice.
- more awful
- More awful is a grammatical alternative built with more, but it means more terrible rather than simply worse.
- poorer
- Poorer is a normal comparative for quality, but it is not used with bad.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: worser or worse?
worser vs worse
Worse is correct English; worser adds an extra -er and is a mistake in standard use.
Practice
Which sentence is correct in standard English?
Choose one answer.
Worse is the standard comparative of bad. Worser and more worse double the comparison, and badder is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “worser”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.