From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishworsenwors‧en /ˈwɜːsən $ ˈwɜːr-/ ●○○ verb [intransitive, transitive] WORSEto become worse, or make something worse OPP improve → deteriorate A lot of teachers expect the situation to worsen over the next few years. Interfering now could worsen the problem. —worsening adjective We are now faced with a worsening economic recession.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
worsen• Relations between the two countries have steadily worsened.• Conditions for many minority groups have worsened.• The recession has deepened, the huge national debt has increased, the people's lot worsened.• The cost of uniforms and books was becoming prohibitive and the gang scene was worsening at school.• The situation was worsened by Roy's tendency to drink heavily in times of stress.• The weather worsened during the night.• The weather had worsened during the short, delay.• worsening economic conditions• The growth of towns alone produced a rapid worsening of their human and material condition.• Third, the very bad relations between the presidential administration and the government have worsened sharply.• The government's bungling attempts to help have only worsened the refugees' plight.• Thirty percent said a third party would make government better, and 23 percent said it would worsen the situation.• Vacillations between anger and overprotectiveness only worsen the situation. 