worsen
UK /ˈwɜːsn̩/ · US /ˈwɝsn̩/ verb
Forms worsens worsening worsened
- verb (transitive) To make worse; to impair. “Global warming has worsened the weather.”
- verb (intransitive) To become worse; to get worse. “The weather has worsened.”
- verb (transitive, obsolete) To get the better of; to worst.
Synonyms
aggravate exacerbate degrade deteriorate adulterate alloy canker contaminate corrupt debase debauch defile deflower downgrade envenom exasperate infect impair leaven pejorate decline
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English wursnen; equivalent to worse + -en.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “worsen”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details