worse than

USAGE SUMMARY

"worse than" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to compare two negative things, in order to show that one is worse than the other. Example: This year's summer camp was worse than last year's; there were fewer activities and the food was not as good.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's worse than cockroaches".

The New York Times

They're worse than bedbugs.

The New York Times

Worse than some.

The New York Times

It's worse than that.

The New York Times - Arts

Nothing worse than that".

The New York Times - Sports

It's worse than McCarthyism.

Independent

It's "worse than Attica".

The New York Times - Books

What's worse than immortality?

The New York Times

Worse than anything.

The New Yorker

Worse than robots, really.

The New Yorker

Worse than useless.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "worse than" to create a clear contrast between two undesirable options, highlighting the greater of two evils.

Common error

Ensure that when using "worse than", the comparison is clear and specific. Avoid ambiguous statements that leave the reader unsure of what is being compared.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worse than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to express a higher degree of negativity or undesirability when comparing two elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for comparing two negative situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worse than" is a ubiquitous comparative expression used to highlight a greater degree of negativity between two subjects. Grammatically sound and widely accepted, as per Ludwig AI, it's a staple in both formal and informal communication. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to effectively convey unfavorable comparisons. While versatile, clarity in its usage is key to avoid ambiguity. It is important to remember, when writing that, according to Ludwig, it's crucial to ensure comparisons are clear and specific to maximize communicative impact. The phrase is quite common and has several alternatives like "more detrimental than" or "inferior to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more severe than

Emphasizes the intensity or seriousness of the negative situation.

more detrimental than

Emphasizes the damaging or harmful aspect of the comparison, focusing on the negative consequences.

less desirable than

Focuses on preference, indicating one option is less wanted or liked.

more unfavorable than

Focuses on the lack of positive qualities, indicating a less desirable outcome.

a far cry from

Indicates a significant difference or deviation from what is expected or desired.

inferior to

Highlights the lower quality or status of one thing compared to another.

pales beside

Denotes that something is insignificant when put next to something else.

paler in comparison to

Highlights a greater disparity or contrast between two items being compared.

not a patch on

An informal way to indicate something doesn't compare well to something else.

eclipsed by

Signifies a situation where something outshines or diminishes the importance of something else.

FAQs

How can I use "worse than" in a sentence?

Use "worse than" to compare two negative situations, things or outcomes. For example: "The traffic today was "worse than" yesterday".

What are some alternatives to using "worse than"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "more detrimental than", "inferior to", or "less desirable than" as alternatives to "worse than".

Is it always appropriate to use "worse than" in formal writing?

While "worse than" is grammatically correct, consider the tone and audience. In some formal contexts, a more nuanced or sophisticated phrasing might be preferable. For example you could use "more severe than".

What's the difference between "worse than" and "bad"?

"Bad" is a general term for something negative or undesirable. "Worse than" specifically compares two negative things, indicating that one is more negative than the other. For example, saying "This headache is bad" describes the headache, while "This headache is "worse than" the one I had yesterday" compares it to a previous headache.