gradually worsened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gradually worsened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that has deteriorated over time in a slow and progressive manner. Example: "The patient's health gradually worsened over the course of several weeks, despite treatment efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The doctor noted that JJ's numbers had gradually worsened.

Independent

Since then, its relations with creditors have gradually worsened.

The Economist

Our patient's family reported that her movements had come on slowly and gradually worsened.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The injuries were chronic and gradually worsened," the team said in a statement.

The New York Times - Sports

The problem has gradually worsened, and it now takes 8 to 10 seconds for each such operation.

The New York Times - Tech

My husband had been a successful architect whose health had gradually worsened until, in 2000, he suffered a massive stroke.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Secondary progressive MS — which Ms Van Den Borne has — is when symptoms gradually worsen over time.

Independent

Ten years ago, Mr. Wiebe noticed gradually worsening vision problems, eventually diagnosed as a form of macular degeneration caused by the steroids.

The New York Times - Health

After about 10 years, however, half of these patients go on to develop "secondary progressive" multiple sclerosis, in which patients gradually worsen between flare-ups.

The New York Times

Miss Moth later told friends and family that the condition would gradually worsen and the pain would increase as the disease took hold of her brain.

Independent

In her autobiography, in which she talks about the face cream, she writes about how "times in Baghdad were gradually worsening politically," and so, for a few years, there were no new excavations in Iraq; instead, "everyone went to Syria".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process that deteriorates over time, use "gradually worsened" to emphasize the slow and progressive nature of the decline. This helps to convey a sense of continuous deterioration rather than a sudden change.

Common error

Be careful not to use "gradually worsened" when the decline was actually rapid or sudden. Using it in such cases can misrepresent the situation and mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gradually worsened" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the manner in which something has deteriorated. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct. It describes the progressive nature of the worsening process, clarifying that it occurred over time rather than abruptly.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gradually worsened" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a situation or condition that has deteriorated slowly over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's particularly prevalent in science and news media, indicating its suitability for both formal and informal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the slow and progressive nature of the decline, and consider alternative phrases like "progressively deteriorated" or "steadily declined" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressively deteriorated

Uses 'deteriorated' instead of 'worsened', emphasizing a decline in quality or condition.

steadily declined

Replaces 'worsened' with 'declined', suggesting a more measured and consistent decrease.

slowly degraded

Employs 'degraded' to highlight a gradual reduction in quality or function.

incrementally worsened

Substitutes 'gradually' with 'incrementally', stressing the step-by-step nature of the decline.

deteriorated over time

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the temporal aspect of the deterioration.

declined bit by bit

Expresses a more descriptive, less formal way to communicate the deterioration.

got worse little by little

Uses more informal language to describe the worsening condition.

suffered a progressive decline

Turns the verb into a noun phrase, focusing on the 'decline' as an event.

exhibited a gradual downturn

Replaces "worsened" with "downturn", indicating a downward trend.

experienced a slow decline

Uses 'experienced' to add a personal or observational element to the decline.

FAQs

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

You can use "gradually worsened" to describe a situation, condition, or symptom that has deteriorated slowly over time. For example, "The patient's condition "gradually worsened" despite the treatment."

What are some alternatives to "gradually worsened"?

Alternatives include "progressively deteriorated", "steadily declined", or "slowly degraded", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "gradually worsened" in formal writing?

Yes, "gradually worsened" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, as it is grammatically correct and widely understood. However, consider the specific tone and audience when choosing among alternatives.

What's the difference between "gradually worsened" and "suddenly worsened"?

"Gradually worsened" indicates a slow, progressive decline, while "suddenly worsened" suggests a rapid and unexpected deterioration. The choice depends on the actual progression of the situation you are describing.