worsened

Worsened is the past tense and past participle of the verb worsen. Worsen means to become worse or to cause something to become worse. The form is used when describing changes in condition, quality, or circumstances that have declined, typically in reference to events that have already occurred. For example, the situation worsened after the weather failed to improve, and the drought worsened farmers’ losses.

The verb is formed from the adjective worse with the derivational suffix -en; its use in English dates from the Middle English period. Intransitive usage is common: The patient’s condition worsened. It can also be transitive: The decision worsened the outlook. As an attributive past participle, worsened can describe a condition that has become worse, though more neutral or formal phrasing often uses deteriorated instead.

Worsened is closely related to worsening, the present participle form that describes ongoing decline. Related terms include worsen (base form) and worsening (present participle/gerund). In usage, worsened often appears in news, medical reports, and analyses to convey that a prior state has deteriorated. Synonyms include deteriorate, degrade, and exacerbate, with nuance: worsen is general; exacerbate emphasizes a worsening that makes a condition more severe, not just worse in degree. See also: worse, worsening, deteriorate.