worsens

Worsens is the third-person singular present tense of the verb worsen. It means to become worse or to cause something to become worse. Intransitive use describes a subject’s state deteriorating, while transitive use takes a direct object, as in the phrase “to worsen the situation.”

Etymology and form: Worsens is formed from the adjective worse, with the derivational suffix -en that is used to create verbs indicating making or becoming. The base verb worsen has other forms such as worsen, worsened, and worsening.

Usage and context: Worsens is common in medical, environmental, economic, and social contexts. It often conveys an undesirable trajectory and can imply the need for action or intervention. In medical writing, one might say a patient’s condition worsens; in climate reporting, conditions worsen with continued drought or storms; in economics, indicators may worsen during a recession.

Common constructions: The weather worsens; the patient’s symptoms worsen; the situation could worsen if not addressed; actions taken could worsen the outcome.

Examples:

- The patient’s condition worsens overnight despite treatment.

- The drought worsened the water shortage this summer.

- Without policy changes, inequality may worsen as the economy slows.

Related terms: worsen contrasts with improve, ameliorate, or mitigate. Related forms include worsening (noun/gerund) and worsened (past tense).