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worse

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈwɝs// UK //wˈɜːs// worse Archaic General-service

n. a situation or result that is more unpleasant or of lower quality than what happened before. You use this when comparing two bad things to say which one is more serious.

n. a more serious, unpleasant, or disadvantageous state or condition than one previously mentioned or experienced. Often functions as a nominalized adjective in comparative structures.


SIMPLE

The weather changed from bad to worse during our walk.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor warned that the patient's condition might take a turn for the worse before it starts to improve.

COMPLEX

While the initial policy change seemed minor, the eventual outcome proved to be for the worse, leading to a significant decline in local economic stability.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English worse, werse, from Old English wiersa, from Proto-West Germanic wirsiʀō, from Proto-Germanic wirsizô. Cognate with Dutch wers (“worse”).

Usage

Typically appears in fixed idiomatic phrases such as 'for the worse' or 'from bad to worse'.

Pitfall

The situation became more worse.The situation became worse.Worse is already a comparative form; adding 'more' is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

Idioms5 entries

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