Meaning & use

worsening

adjective·Academic

Becoming worse or more severe over time, often describing a condition, situation, or relationship in decline.

See it in a sentence

Doctors grew concerned about the patient's worsening symptoms despite the new medication.

The worsening drought forced farmers across the region to abandon their summer crops.

A note on using this word

Worsening can function as an adjective before a noun or as the present participle of the verb worsen, as in the storm is worsening.

Words with a similar meaning

deterioratingdeclining

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

improving

Make it your own

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