worsen

  • 1Worsen — Wors en, v. i. To grow or become worse. De Quincey. [1913 Webster] Indifferent health, which seemed rather to worsen than improve. Carlyle. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Worsen — Wors en, v. t. 1. To make worse; to deteriorate; to impair. [1913 Webster] It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened. Southey. [1913 Webster] 2. To get the better of; to… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3worsen — index aggravate (exacerbate), decay, degenerate, depreciate, deteriorate, exacerbate, harm, impair …

    Law dictionary

  • 4worsen — (v.) to make worse, O.E. wyrsian, from the root of WORSE (Cf. worse). The reflexive sense of to get worse, become worse off first attested 1795 and elevated into literary use c.1800 30, where formerly worse (v.) had served. Related: Worsened;… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5worsen — see en verbs from adjectives …

    Modern English usage

  • 6worsen — [v] diminish, decay aggravate, corrode, damage, decline, degenerate, depress, descend, deteriorate, disintegrate, exacerbate, fall off, get worse, go downhill*, impair, lower, retrograde, retrogress, rot, sink; concepts 240,698 Ant. improve,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 7worsen — ► VERB ▪ make or become worse …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8worsen — [wʉr′sən] vt., vi. [orig. dial. < WORSE + EN] to make or become worse …

    English World dictionary

  • 9worsen — verb ADVERB ▪ considerably, dramatically, markedly, significantly ▪ The problem has worsened considerably in recent months. ▪ gradually, progressively, steadily …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 10worsen — UK [ˈwɜː(r)s(ə)n] / US [ˈwɜrs(ə)n] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms worsen : present tense I/you/we/they worsen he/she/it worsens present participle worsening past tense worsened past participle worsened to become worse, or to make… …

    English dictionary