worsens

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'worsens' is correct and usable in written English.
It is the verb form of the adjective 'worse' and is used to describe something that becomes or has become worse. Example: The weather forecast predicts that the storm will worsen throughout the day, with heavy rain and strong winds. In this sentence, 'worsen' is used to describe the increasing severity of the storm's effects.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Australian iron ore industry is poised for a huge shake-up as the global glut worsens and margins continue to tighten.

The Guardian - Business

But I am going to guess that come the end of the spring, the DPJ will be in a full-blown panic, especially if the global economic picture worsens with heightened fears about sovereign debt.The last couple of years of the LDP in office were marked by cross-party intrigue.

The Economist

Losses are surging as the economic climate worsens.

The Economist

After all, a recovery that is entrenched by 2015 is his overwhelming goal.Strikingly, Mr Darling offers Mr Osborne support against those on the left demanding that the government unveil an alternative fiscal plan now, in case the economic weather worsens.

The Economist

So it is no surprise that as America's housing crunch worsens in a presidential-election year, the pressure to help homeowners is growing.

The Economist

The referendum had been demanded by the opposition, which had collected 2m signatures demanding the vote.Haiti was shaken by big demonstrations against the regime of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to which the government responded with counter-demonstrations by its own supporters.See article: The situation worsens sharply in Haiti.

The Economist

But hard choices are looming.As the economic news worsens and profits dive, more firms will be at risk of breaching covenants on standard measures such as the ratio of debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.

The Economist

West African oil, a close substitute for Libya's output which usually goes to Asia, will be sent to Europe instead.If the supply situation worsens, opportunities for this type of substitution will be fewer, creating supply bottlenecks, shortages of petrol and spikes within price spikes for different crudes and products, even when spare capacity remains.

The Economist

As the euro crisis worsens so does its impact on Britain's economy.

The Economist

But a number of Mr Assad's opponents worry that the Muslim Brotherhood, which backed Mr Hitto, wants to dominate the opposition.As the fighting intensifies, the humanitarian crisis worsens.

The Economist

Russia does not need to move now, he says; it can afford to wait until the Ukrainian economy worsens, a process Russia is helping along by blocking Ukrainian exports.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "worsens" to clearly indicate a negative change or decline in a specific situation. It's effective when you want to emphasize the process of something becoming worse over time.

Common error

While "worsens" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal writing can sound repetitive. Consider using stronger or more precise verbs like "deteriorates", "declines", or "exacerbates" to add nuance and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "worsens" is that of a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense. It describes an action of something becoming worse. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various sentence structures, effectively conveying the idea of deterioration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

21%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worsens" is a grammatically sound verb used to express the deterioration of a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts. The analysis reveals it is most frequently used in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science writing. Related phrases like "deteriorates" or "declines" can offer nuanced alternatives. To enhance clarity, focus on specifying what exactly "worsens" and avoid overuse in formal contexts. By understanding its function and communicative purpose, writers can effectively use "worsens" to convey negative change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deteriorates

Focuses on the gradual decline of a condition.

declines

Emphasizes a downward trend or decrease.

exacerbates

Highlights the act of making something already bad, even worse.

aggravates

Similar to "exacerbates", it suggests intensifying a negative situation.

intensifies

Indicates an increase in the severity of something.

compounds

Suggests adding to existing problems or difficulties.

heightens

Implies an increase in intensity or degree.

escalates

Indicates a rapid increase or intensification.

degenerates

Focuses on a decline to a lower or worse state.

takes a turn for the worse

Idiomatic phrase indicating a sudden negative change.

FAQs

How do I use "worsens" in a sentence?

"Worsens" indicates that something is becoming worse. For example, "The situation "worsens" with each passing day".

What can I say instead of "worsens"?

You can use alternatives like "deteriorates", "declines", or "exacerbates" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'the problem worsens'?

Yes, "the problem "worsens"" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a problem becoming more severe.

What's the difference between "worsens" and "aggravates"?

"Worsens" generally describes a situation becoming worse, while "aggravates" implies actively making something worse. They can be similar, but "aggravates" often suggests a more direct action causing the deterioration.