worse Hear it!

worse Definition

worse (wʉrs)

adjective

  1. bad & ill
    1. bad, evil, harmful, unpleasant, etc. in a greater degree; less good
    2. of inferior quality or condition
  2. in poorer health or physical condition; more ill; less well
  3. in a less favorable condition; in a less satisfactory situation

Etymology: ME < OE wiersa (used as compar. of yfel, bad, evil), akin to OHG wirsiro, prob. < base of OHG & OS werran, to confuse

adverb

  1. badly & ill
  2. in a worse manner or way
  3. to a worse extent or degree

noun

that which is worse

worse Idioms

for the worse

to a worse condition

worse off

  1. in a worse situation or condition
  2. having less income, wealth, etc.
worse Synonyms

worse

modif.

more evil, not so good, less good, deteriorated; see poor 2.

worse Quotes

I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more, But dipped its top and set me down again. That would be good both going and coming back. One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

—Frost, Robert Lee

To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

—Book of Common Prayer

Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor. I see the better things, and approve; I follow the worse.

—Ovid full name Publius OvidiusNaso   4317

Often, the fear of one evil leadsus into inflicting onethat is worse.

—Boileau (Despre¤  aux), Nicolas

More will mean worse.

—Amis, Sir Kingsley

Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe, how much it altered her person for the worse.

—Swift,Jonathan

He seemed For dignity composed and high exploit: But all was false and hollow; though his tongue Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear The better reason.

—Milton,John

   There are worse occupations in this world than feeling a woman's pulse.

—Sterne, Laurence

   There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

—Wilde, Oscar Fingal O'FlahertieWills

Then strip lads, and to it, though sharp be the weather, And if, by mischance, you should happen to fall, There are worse things in life than a tumble on the heather And life is itself a game of football.

—Scott, Sir Walter

Love'slikethemeaslesöalltheworsewhenitcomeslate in life.

—Jerrold, Douglas William

Browse dictionary entries near worse

  1. worrywart
  2. worrying
  3. worry beads
  4. worry
  5. worrisome
  6. worriment
  7. worried
  8. worn-out
  9. worn
  10. wormy
  1. worsen
  2. worsened
  3. worser
  4. worship
  5. worshiper
  6. worshipful
  7. worst
  8. worst-case
  9. worsted
  10. wort