making things worse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making things worse" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a situation that is deteriorating or becoming more problematic. Example: "His comments were unhelpful, only making things worse." Alternative expressions include "exacerbating the situation" and "compounding the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's making things worse.

Harvard University

The recession is making things worse.

The Economist

Some accuse it of making things worse.

The Economist

It is making things worse, not better.

The Guardian

And climate change is making things worse.

The Guardian

And which are making things worse?

Stanford University

The economic slowdown is making things worse for them.

The Economist

In the meantime they are making things worse.

The Economist

The ones we have now are just making things worse.

The New York Times

But their efforts to do so are making things worse.

The Economist

In fact, the Fed may be inadvertently making things worse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "making things worse", ensure the context clearly identifies the initial problem or situation that is being exacerbated. This provides clarity and emphasizes the impact of the action.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a superficial action is "making things worse" without understanding the deeper, underlying causes of the problem. Accurate assessment is crucial for effective solutions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making things worse" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a clause to describe an action or situation that is worsening an existing condition or problem. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is commonly used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making things worse" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe actions or situations that exacerbate an existing problem. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and academic writing. While the phrase is suitable for many registers, more formal options like "exacerbating the situation" might be preferable in specific contexts. Be mindful of clearly identifying the initial problem to ensure effective communication. With an expert rating of 4.5, this guide provides insights into usage, alternatives, and potential pitfalls to help writers use the phrase with confidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making a bad situation worse

This phrase is a more explicit and descriptive alternative that is almost identical in meaning.

exacerbating the situation

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of intensifying an already negative state.

compounding the problem

This phrase highlights the additive effect of negative actions, suggesting the problem is growing in complexity.

aggravating the matter

This alternative is more formal and focuses on increasing the severity or seriousness of a problem.

worsening the condition

This suggests a deterioration in health or state, implying a decline from an already negative baseline.

inflaming the issue

This alternative highlights the emotional or conflict-driven aspect of making a situation worse.

adding fuel to the fire

This idiom suggests intensifying a conflict or negative situation through further provocative actions.

digging a deeper hole

This idiom implies creating a more difficult situation by trying to resolve an existing problem clumsily.

screwing things up

This is a more informal alternative that suggests a blunder that makes the situation more complicated.

messing things up

A less formal way to express creating problems or worsening a situation through mistakes or incompetence.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "making things worse"?

You can use alternatives like "exacerbating the situation", "compounding the problem", or "aggravating the matter" depending on the context.

How to use "making things worse" in a sentence?

To effectively use "making things worse", ensure your sentence clearly indicates what the initial problem is and how the action in question exacerbates it. For example, "His constant criticism is "making things worse" for team morale."

Is "making things worse" a formal or informal expression?

"Making things worse" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "exacerbating the situation" or "compounding the problem" may be preferred in highly formal writing.

What's the difference between "making things worse" and "making a bad situation worse"?

The phrases "making things worse" and "making a bad situation worse" are largely interchangeable. However, "making a bad situation worse" explicitly acknowledges that the initial state was already negative, whereas ""making things worse"" implies it but doesn't state it directly.