# worsen

/ˈwɝsən/ (US) · /wˈɜːsən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/worsen
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to make something worse

verb · CEFR B2

to make a situation or a problem more difficult or unpleasant.

For teachers: to make something worse or to impair its quality. This transitive use requires a direct object.

- Adding more salt to the soup will only worsen the taste.
- The new policy served only to worsen the existing tensions between the management and the local workforce.

## Examples

- The weather began to worsen as the sun went down.
- Economists fear that the new trade restrictions will worsen the existing supply chain issues and lead to higher prices.
- Without immediate intervention from the international community, the humanitarian crisis in the region is expected to worsen significantly over the winter months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.