at worst

prepositional phrase

If the worst possible alternative happens (especially in an otherwise positive situation).

“It looks like rain, but let's go out anyway. At worst, we'll only get wet.”

Similar
at bestat the worst
Opposite
at best
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Meanings

prepositional phrase

alternative at the worst

  1. If the worst possible alternative happens (especially in an otherwise positive situation).

    It looks like rain, but let's go out anyway. At worst, we'll only get wet.

    Synonyms: at best

Synonyms & antonyms

prepositional phraseIf the worst possible alternative happens (especially in an otherwise positive situation).

Similar
at best

More synonyms by meaning

adverbunder the worst of conditions

Similar
at the worst
Opposite
at best

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 大不了
  • 大不了 (dàbuliǎo)if the worst possible alternative happens
Finnish pahimmillaan
  • pahimmillaanif the worst possible alternative happens
French au pire
  • au pireif the worst possible alternative happens
German schlimmstenfalls
  • schlimmstenfallsif the worst possible alternative happens
Hungarian a legrosszabb esetben
  • a legrosszabb esetbenif the worst possible alternative happens
Icelandic þegar verst lætur
  • þegar verst læturif the worst possible alternative happens
Italian male che vada, alla peggio
  • male che vadaif the worst possible alternative happens
  • alla peggioif the worst possible alternative happens
Polish w najgorszym przypadku
  • w najgorszym przypadkuif the worst possible alternative happens
Portuguese na pior das hipóteses
  • na pior das hipótesesif the worst possible alternative happens
Russian в ху́дшем слу́чае
  • в ху́дшем слу́чае (v xúdšem slúčaje)if the worst possible alternative happens
Scottish Gaelic aig a' char as miosa
  • aig a' char as miosaif the worst possible alternative happens
Spanish como muy malo, a lo peor/ínfimo
  • como muy maloif the worst possible alternative happens
  • a lo peor/ínfimoif the worst possible alternative happens
Cite this entry
APA

at worst. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20worst

MLA

“at worst.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20worst. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “at worst,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20worst.

Source: at worst on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.