worsening

W4O1R1S1E1N1I1N1G2

noun

A worse situation; an aggravation or deterioration

Similar
deteriorationdecline in qualitydeclension
Opposite
bettering
Less commonScrabble 13
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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of worsen
nounworsening (countable and uncountable, plural worsenings)

plural worsenings

  1. countableuncountableA worse situation; an aggravation or deterioration

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivechanging for the worse

Opposite
bettering

nounprocess of changing to an inferior state

Similar
deteriorationdecline in qualitydeclension
Broader
declinediminution
Also see
corruptiondeclensiondegradationdepravationdeteriorationdisimprovementdowngradedrop

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Bulgarian влоша́ване
  • влоша́ване (vlošávane)worse situation — see also deterioration
Catalan empitjorament
  • empitjoramentworse situation — see also deterioration
Czech zhoršení
  • zhoršeníworse situation — see also deterioration
Finnish paheneminen, huononeminen
  • paheneminenworse situation — see also deterioration
  • huononeminenworse situation — see also deterioration
French aggravation
  • aggravationworse situation — see also deterioration
German Verschlechterung, Verschlimmerung
  • Verschlechterungworse situation — see also deterioration
  • Verschlimmerungworse situation — see also deterioration
Greek επιδείνωση, χειροτέρευση
  • επιδείνωση (epideínosi)worse situation — see also deterioration
  • χειροτέρευση (cheirotérefsi)worse situation — see also deterioration
Italian aggravamento, inasprimento
  • aggravamentoworse situation — see also deterioration
  • inasprimentoworse situation — see also deterioration
  • peggioramentoworse situation — see also deterioration
Polish pogorszenie
  • pogorszenieworse situation — see also deterioration
Russian ухудше́ние
  • ухудше́ние (uxudšénije)worse situation — see also deterioration
Slovak zhoršenie
  • zhoršenieworse situation — see also deterioration
Spanish empeoramiento
  • empeoramientoworse situation — see also deterioration
Swedish försämring
  • försämringworse situation — see also deterioration
Ukrainian погі́ршення
  • погі́ршення (pohíršennja)worse situation — see also deterioration

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Niswonger
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“worsening.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worsening. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “worsening,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worsening.

Source: worsening on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.