make things worse

USAGE SUMMARY

"make things worse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate a situation you are describing is worsening. For example, "I was already in a difficult spot, but then the next day my boss added more tasks to my workload, making things worse."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They make things worse.

The New York Times

"You make things worse".

The New York Times - Books

Profligate municipalities make things worse.

The Economist

Sometimes they make things worse.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would make things worse.

The New York Times

(Occasionally, seat belts make things worse).

The New York Times

Brazil's problems will make things worse.

The Economist

This is bound to make things worse.

The Economist

Gay marriage will only make things worse.

The New York Times

Further cuts will only make things worse.

The New York Times

It could even make things worse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential solutions, carefully consider unintended consequences. Use "make things worse" to highlight the risk of actions that might exacerbate the existing problems.

Common error

Avoid using "make things worse" in situations that are already highly dramatic. Opt for more nuanced language to maintain credibility and avoid sounding hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make things worse" functions as a verb phrase expressing the action of deteriorating or exacerbating a situation. It is commonly used to caution against actions that could negatively impact already problematic circumstances, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make things worse" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe actions that negatively impact a situation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is widely used across diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to formal business settings. When writing, it's important to consider the context and avoid overuse in overly dramatic situations. Consider alternative phrases like "exacerbate the situation" or "aggravate the problem" for more formal tones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a bad situation worse

Adds the adjective "bad" to emphasize the negative state of affairs.

only worsen matters

Replaces "make" with "worsen" and adds "only" for emphasis.

make things even more difficult

Emphasizes the increase in difficulty due to certain actions.

exacerbate the situation

Replaces a general statement with a more formal and specific verb.

aggravate the problem

Substitutes "things" with a more specific term and utilizes a different verb.

compound the issue

Uses a more formal verb to indicate the addition of further problems.

further complicate matters

Indicates an increase in complexity as a result of an action.

add fuel to the fire

Employs an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of intensifying a bad situation.

pour salt on the wound

Uses an idiomatic expression suggesting actions that intensify suffering or hardship.

degrade the quality

Focuses on the declining quality as a result of particular actions.

FAQs

How can I use "make things worse" in a sentence?

You can use "make things worse" to indicate that a particular action or situation will negatively impact an already problematic scenario. For example, "Trying to fix the issue without proper training might "make things worse"."

What's a more formal way to say "make things worse"?

In a formal context, you could use phrases like "exacerbate the situation", "aggravate the problem", or "compound the issue".

Is "make things worse" always negative?

Yes, "make things worse" inherently carries a negative connotation. It implies that a situation or condition will deteriorate as a result of some action or event.

What is the difference between ""make things worse"" and "not make things better"?

"Make things worse" indicates an active deterioration, while "not make things better" suggests a lack of improvement or a stagnation of the current state. The former implies a negative impact, while the latter implies a lack of positive impact.