ENGLISH
REFERENCE

worsening

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈwɝsənɪŋ// UK //wˈɜːsənɪŋ// wors·en·ing

adj. becoming worse or more serious than before. You use this to describe a situation that is getting harder to deal with.

adj. becoming more severe, intense, or lower in quality over time. Often used as a participial adjective to describe conditions, health, or weather.


SIMPLE

The worsening weather forced us to stay inside.

CONTEXTUAL

Doctors are closely monitoring the patient's worsening condition to decide if surgery is necessary.

COMPLEX

The worsening economic climate has led many small businesses to reconsider their expansion plans for the next fiscal year, as consumer confidence continues to decline across the region.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Often used attributively before a noun to describe a deteriorating state.

© 2026 English Reference