worsen

From Middle English wursnen; equivalent to worse +‎ -en.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈwɝsn̩/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈwɜːsn̩/

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)sən

worsen (third-person singular simple present worsens, present participle worsening, simple past and past participle worsened)

1. (transitive) To make worse; to impair.

   The global warming has worsened the weather.

   • 1829, Robert Southey, “(please specify the page)”, in Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:

     It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened.

2. (intransitive) To become worse; to get worse.

   The weather has worsened.

   • 1961 January, “Talking of Trains: Flooding at Lewes”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:

     During the day conditions worsened quickly—for example, a 2-6-0 on the Uckfield line suddenly encountered flood water high enough to enter its ashpan and extinguish its fire—until lock gates up-river at Barcombe gave way and a tidal wave rolled down the valley meeting head-on a spring tide rolling up from the coast.

   • 2023 April 5, Mel Holley, “Network News: TPE faces uncertain future after high cancellation rate”, in RAIL, number 980, page 8:

     TPE's cancellation score worsened from 7.2% to 23.8% when adjusted to include pre-cancellations (P*-coded) owing to a shortage of train crew.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To get the better of; to worst.

• (to make worse): aggravate, exacerbate; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (to become worse): decline, deteriorate; See also Thesaurus:worsen
• (to get the better of): better, defeat, overpower

• improve
• ameliorate

• Rewson, owners, resown, rowens, snower, sworne