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Meaning & use

worse

adjective, adverb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/wɜːs/
US/wɝːs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Lower in quality, or more serious or unpleasant, than something it is compared with.

    Grammar: Works before a noun or after be, often followed by than.

    Patterns

    • worse than something
    • get worse

    The traffic today is worse than yesterday.

    The second film was much worse than the first.

    Things could be worse.

  2. adjectiveafter a verb

    More ill, or less healthy, than before.

    Grammar: Used after be, feel or get: she feels worse.

    Patterns

    • feel worse
    • get worse

    His cough got worse during the night.

    She felt worse after taking the medicine.

    The patient is no worse today.

  3. adverbnot comparable

    In a poorer or less successful way than before or than others.

    Grammar: Modifies a verb: he sings worse.

    Patterns

    • do worse
    • worse off

    She did worse on the second test.

    The team played worse in the final.

    Some families are worse off than others.

Word forms

superlativeworst

Common combinations

get worse
The storm is expected to get worse by evening.
much worse
My cold is much worse today.
even worse
The reply was even worse than I expected.
worse than
This coffee is worse than the one at the office.
for better or worse
For better or worse, we have to decide today.
worse off
The new tax leaves many people worse off.

Synonyms and how they differ

inferior
Inferior is more formal and often describes rank or quality, not events or feelings.
poorer
Poorer is the plain comparative of poor and suits quality or wealth, but it is less common for illness.
more severe
More severe is the right choice for pain, weather or punishment, while worse is the everyday option.
deteriorated
Deteriorated describes a decline over time, whereas worse only compares two states.

Opposites

betterimproved

Word family

bad adjective
the base form
worst adjective
the superlative, most bad
worsen verb
to become or make worse
worsening adjective
becoming worse

Commonly confused: worse or worst? worse or worth?

worse vs worst

Worse compares two things; worst picks the lowest from three or more.

worse vs worth

Worth is about value, as in worth ten dollars; worse is about being more bad.

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