forværre

Forværre is a verb used in Norwegian and Danish meaning to cause something to become worse; to worsen or aggravate. It is a transitive verb that describes deterioration of conditions, situations, health, or other states as a result of actions or events.

Usage notes: The term is common in both everyday language and more formal writing when discussing negative changes brought about by policies, neglect, mishandling, or external factors. It often appears with phrases that identify what is becoming worse and what is driving the change.

Examples: In Norwegian, one might say, Ny lovgivning kan forverre den økonomiske situasjonen. Another common construction is with a passive past participle: Situasjonen ble forverret etter at systemet gikk ned. In Danish, the meaning is the same, with the infinitive atværre (forværre) used similarly in sentences discussing worsening outcomes.

Related terms: The noun forverring refers to the process or result of worsening, i.e., deterioration. Forverring can occur in contexts such as health, environmental conditions, or economic or social situations. The verb and noun are closely linked in usage, with forverring often serving as the outcome described by forværre.

Etymology and cognates: The word is formed from the prefix for- meaning “to cause to become” attached to the adjective ver- re, meaning “worse.” It shares cognates across Scandinavian languages, reflecting a common Germanic heritage.

See also: forverring.