be worsened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be worsened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is being made worse or deteriorating in quality or condition. Example: "If the situation continues to escalate, it will be worsened by the lack of communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Buildings can sustain damage that can be worsened by aftershocks.

The New York Times

Those are our children!" The pain must be worsened by the weirdness of the plane's loss.

The New Yorker

In fact, their lives could be worsened as they are left behind in the development project.

The Guardian

Conditions in emergency rooms may be worsened by the new health care law, several experts said.

The New York Times - Health

The authority also faces budget constraints that will almost certainly be worsened by the World Trade Center disaster.

The New York Times

Labor unrest could be worsened if Argentina's top trading partner, Brazil, plunges even deeper into its worst recession in decades.

The Guardian

And they are all problems that are likely to be worsened by a long corruption trial of the prime minister.

The New York Times

It is inevitable that this problem will be worsened if an outright ban were put in place.

The New York Times

The problem may be worsened by certain choices Ms. Oates has made in turning her short story into a play.

The New York Times

Business travelers know too well that their condition can be worsened by two seemingly antithetical activities: moving and not moving.

The New York Times

Critics will claim the prospects of these families will be worsened by the coalition's programme of public spending cuts.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be worsened", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the worsening. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be worsened" in active voice constructions. The phrase is inherently passive, so using it actively can lead to awkward or grammatically incorrect sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be worsened" functions primarily as a passive construction, indicating that something is undergoing a process of deterioration or being made worse by an external factor. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be worsened" is a commonly used passive construction that indicates a state of deterioration or being made worse. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across a variety of sources, predominantly in news, scientific, and formal writing. The phrase is grammatically sound, and while alternatives like "be aggravated" or "be exacerbated" exist, "be worsened" provides a direct and clear way to express the idea of something declining in quality or condition. When using "be worsened", ensure the context is passive and that the cause of the worsening is evident to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be made worse

A more direct and literal way of expressing the same idea.

be aggravated

Uses a different verb to express a similar meaning of making something worse.

be exacerbated

Emphasizes the intensification of a negative situation.

be intensified

Similar to 'exacerbated' but with a slightly different connotation of increasing force.

be deteriorated

Focuses on the decline in quality or condition.

be compounded

Highlights the addition of further negative elements.

be impaired

Focuses on the weakening or damaging of something.

be degraded

Implies a reduction in status or quality.

be undermined

Highlights the weakening of a foundation or support.

be amplified

Emphasizes the increase in intensity of a negative effect.

FAQs

How can I use "be worsened" in a sentence?

Use "be worsened" to describe a situation or condition that is deteriorating. For example, "The problem will "be worsened" if we don't take action."

What are some alternatives to "be worsened"?

You can use alternatives like "be aggravated", "be exacerbated", or "be made worse" to express a similar idea.

Is it correct to say "will be worsen" instead of "will be worsened"?

No, "will be worsen" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form is "will "be worsened"", using the past participle.

What's the difference between "be worsened" and "worsen"?

"Be worsened" is used in the passive voice, indicating that something is having a negative effect imposed upon it, while "worsen" is active, indicating that something is actively causing a negative effect.