From Middle English wursnen; equivalent to worse + -en.

• (America) IPA: /ˈwɝsn̩/
• (RP) IPA: /ˈwɜːsn̩/

worsen (worsens, present participle worsening; simple past and past participle worsened)

1. (transitive) To make worse; to impair.

   The global warming has worsened the weather.

   • 1829, Robert Southey, “(please specify the page)”, in Sir Thomas More: or, Colloquies on the Progress and Prospects of Society. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC ↗:

     It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened.

2. (intransitive) To become worse; to get worse.

   The weather has worsened.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To get the better of; to worst.

• (to make worse) aggravate, exacerbate; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (to become worse) decline, deteriorate; See also Thesaurus:worsen
• (to get the better of) better, defeat, overpower

• improve
• ameliorate

• French: empirer
• German: verschlechtern
• Italian: peggiorare, andare di male in peggio
• Portuguese: piorar, empiorar
• Russian: ухудша́ть
• Spanish: empeorar, desmejorar, ir de mal en peor, peorar

• German: verschlechtern, sich verschlechtern
• Italian: peggiorare
• Portuguese: piorar, empiorar
• Russian: ухудша́ться
• Spanish: empeorarse, desmejorarse