have worsened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have worsened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that has deteriorated over time, often in the present perfect tense. Example: "The economic conditions in the region have worsened significantly over the past year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, they have worsened.

The New York Times - Books

Moreover, Roche's numbers have worsened.

The New York Times

Faculty-student ratios have worsened.

The New York Times

Gradually, however, matters have worsened.

The Guardian

If anything, their grievances have worsened.

The New York Times

In recent years tensions have worsened.

The Economist

But corruption, unemployment and misrule have worsened.

The Economist

Conditions have worsened in other ways.

The New York Times

Ethnic and religious divides have worsened.

The New York Times

Rising prices have worsened their predicament.

The New York Times

Since then, the troubles have worsened.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have worsened" when you want to emphasize a gradual decline or deterioration of a situation over time. Ensure the subject clearly identifies what is declining, such as "economic conditions" or "public health".

Common error

Avoid using "have worsened" to describe a sudden, one-time event. Instead, use it for ongoing conditions. For example, don't say "The accident has worsened the traffic", but rather "The constant roadwork has worsened the traffic over time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have worsened" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating that a condition or situation has deteriorated over a period leading up to the present. It describes a process of decline. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have worsened" is a grammatically sound and frequently used present perfect verb phrase to describe a deterioration of a situation over time. As Ludwig AI shows, the expression is correct and usable in English. It appears most commonly in news and media, with supporting usage in scientific and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that you're describing a condition that has declined over time, rather than a singular event. Related phrases include "have deteriorated" and "have declined", each offering slightly different nuances. By following these guidelines, you can effectively and accurately use "have worsened" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have deteriorated

Focuses on the process of becoming impaired or reduced in quality.

have declined

Emphasizes a downward trend or decrease in quantity or quality.

have degraded

Highlights a loss of quality or integrity, often in a gradual way.

have exacerbated

Suggests that something has been made more severe or intense.

have regressed

Implies a return to a previous, less developed state.

have compounded

Indicates that problems or difficulties have increased in number or severity.

have intensified

Highlights an increase in strength or degree.

have spiraled downward

Conveys a sense of rapid and uncontrolled decline.

have taken a turn for the worse

A more idiomatic expression indicating a negative change.

have gone downhill

An informal way of saying things have become worse.

FAQs

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

The phrase "have worsened" is used to indicate that a situation or condition has deteriorated over time. For example, "Since the new policy was implemented, customer satisfaction levels "have worsened" considerably".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "have worsened"?

You can use alternatives such as "have deteriorated", "have declined", or "have exacerbated" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has worsened" instead of "have worsened"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "has worsened" with singular subjects (e.g., "The situation has worsened"), and "have worsened" with plural subjects (e.g., "Conditions have worsened").

What is the difference between "have worsened" and "have deteriorated"?

While both phrases indicate a decline, ""have worsened"" generally implies that something has become more severe, while "have deteriorated" suggests a decline in quality or condition. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.