worsening
/ˈwɜːsənɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɚsənɪŋ] /ˈwɜːrsənɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwɜː.sən.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɚsənɪŋ] /ˈwɝː.sən.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɚsənɪŋ] /ˈwər-sᵊn How to pronounce worsen (audio)/ (ame, mw)
worsening — 形容詞
- worseningpositive
- more worseningcomparative
- most worseningsuperlative
1. continuing to become less good or more serious, used to describe a situation, co
惡化的
持續變得更糟的（情況、狀態）
continuing to become less good or more serious, used to describe a situation, condition, or level that was already bad and keeps getting worse.
The worsening drought forced Andrew to sell his cattle earlier than planned.
日益嚴重的乾旱迫使 Andrew 比計劃更早賣掉他的牛隻。
worsening + noun denoting a crisis or problem
Elena's worsening eyesight made it difficult for her to recognise faces from across the room.
Elena 日益惡化的視力使她難以辨認房間對面的人臉。
worsening + noun for a personal condition
The mayor outlined steps to ease the worsening traffic on the main highway.
市政府官員宣布了新措施，以應對主要公路上日益惡化的交通壅塞問題。
The worsening financial crisis forced Paloma to close her small bakery.
日益嚴重的金融危機迫使 Paloma 關閉了她的小麵包店。
- deteriorating
more formal; common in medical and technical writing
- declining
focuses on a downward trend rather than the seriousness of the result
- degenerating
stronger negative connotation; often used for moral or physical breakdown
- improving
opposite direction of change
- recovering
used especially for health or economic situations
文法句型
worsening + noun
用法筆記
This adjective only appears before a noun. To express the same idea as a verb in a sentence, use the verb 'worsen' — compare 'the worsening drought' (adj+noun) with 'the drought worsened' (noun+verb).
常見錯誤
worsening — 名詞
1. the process or fact of a situation, condition, or level becoming less good or mo
惡化
情況或品質變得更糟的過程
the process or fact of a situation, condition, or level becoming less good or more serious over time.
Doctors are concerned about the worsening of Diya's lung condition since the winter began.
醫生們對 Diya 的肺部狀況自入冬以來持續惡化感到憂心。
worsening of + noun phrase (health context)
The sudden worsening of the storm forced the airport to cancel all remaining flights.
暴風雨突然加劇，迫使機場取消了所有剩餘航班。
sudden worsening — common adverb + noun pattern
Experts reported a worrying worsening in air quality across the industrial district.
專家報告指出，工業區的空氣品質出現了令人擔憂的惡化。
Residents complained about the worsening of security in the apartment building after dark.
居民投訴天黑後公寓大樓的安全情況持續惡化。
- deterioration
more formal; preferred in medical and academic contexts
- decline
broader meaning — can describe a simple drop without implying the starting point was already bad
- degeneration
stronger; suggests a breakdown in quality or function
- improvement
movement in a positive direction
- recovery
returning to a previous better state after a period of decline
文法句型
worsening of + noun phrase
worsening in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'of' (worsening of something) or 'in' (worsening in something). Often paired with adjectives like 'steady', 'dramatic', 'sudden', or 'gradual' to describe the pace of decline.
常見錯誤
worsening — 動詞
- worseningpresent simple I / you / we / they
- worsenings3rd person singular
- worseninging-ing form
- worseningedpast simple
1. to become less good or more serious — used of a situation, condition, or relatio
變糟
已不好的情況變得愈來愈糟
to become less good or more serious — used of a situation, condition, or relationship that was already bad and continues to get worse.
The patient's condition worsened overnight despite the doctors' best efforts.
儘管醫生竭盡全力，患者的狀況還是在一夜之間惡化了。
condition + worsens (health context)
Economic conditions in the region worsened after the flood destroyed thousands of homes.
洪水摧毀數千間房屋後，該地區的經濟情況更加惡化。
Nadia's relationship with her brother worsened when they disagreed about their mother's care.
Nadia 和弟弟因母親的照護問題產生歧見，關係因此惡化。
Trang's cough worsened every time she walked past the construction site.
Trang 每次走過工地時，咳嗽都會加劇。
- deteriorate
more formal; very common in medical and technical English
- decline
focuses on a downward direction; can be less dramatic
- degenerate
stronger; suggests a return to a worse former state or a breakdown
- get worse
informal equivalent; more common in everyday speech
文法句型
noun phrase + worsens
noun phrase + worsened + adverb (e.g., dramatically)
用法筆記
Never takes a direct object. If you want to say that someone caused something to become worse, use the transitive sense (verb/2). The verb 'worsen' is slightly more formal than the phrase 'get worse'.
常見錯誤
2. to make a bad situation, condition, or relationship even less good or more serio
加劇
使已不好的情況變得更嚴重
to make a bad situation, condition, or relationship even less good or more serious than it already is.
Darius's careless comments only worsened an already tense atmosphere in the office.
Darius 不經思考的發言讓辦公室裡本已緊繃的氣氛更加惡化。
worsen + noun phrase (interpersonal context)
Applying hot water to the burn will worsen the injury and increase the pain.
用熱水沖洗燙傷處會加重傷勢並增加疼痛。
The new restrictions worsened the housing shortage by limiting construction permits in the city.
這項新限制措施限制了市區的建照核發，使房屋短缺問題更加惡化。
Blaming the volunteer team publicly only worsened the charity's reputation in the local community.
公開指責志工團隊只會讓該慈善機構在當地社區的聲譽更加惡化。
- aggravate
slightly more formal; very common for health contexts (aggravate an injury)
- exacerbate
more formal and stronger; used especially for problems, conflicts, or crises
- compound
suggests adding a new problem on top of an existing one
- make worse
informal equivalent; more common in everyday speech
文法句型
noun phrase + worsens + noun phrase
worsen + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always takes a direct object — the subject causes something to become worse. Frequently used with 'only' (e.g., 'only worsened the problem') to emphasise that the action made things worse rather than better. Do not confuse with the intransitive sense (verb/1), where no object follows.