worse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun something inferior in quality or condition or effect
    • for better or for worse
    • accused of cheating and lying and worse
  2. adjective (comparative of `bad') inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
    • this road is worse than the first one we took
    • the road is in worse shape than it was
    • she was accused of worse things than cheating and lying
  3. adjective changed for the worse in health or fitness
    worsened.
    • I feel worse today
    • her cold is worse
  4. adjective having undesirable or negative qualities
    bad.
    • a bad report card
    • his sloppy appearance made a bad impression
    • a bad little boy
    • clothes in bad shape
    • a bad cut
    • bad luck
    • the news was very bad
    • the reviews were bad
    • the pay is bad
    • it was a bad light for reading
    • the movie was a bad choice
  5. adjective satellite very intense
    big; bad.
    • a bad headache
    • in a big rage
    • had a big (or bad) shock
    • a bad earthquake
    • a bad storm
  6. adjective satellite feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')
    bad; tough.
    • my throat feels bad
    • she felt bad all over
    • he was feeling tough after a restless night
  7. adjective satellite (of foodstuffs) not in an edible or usable condition
    bad; spoilt; spoiled.
    • bad meat
    • a refrigerator full of spoilt food
  8. adjective feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
    sorry; bad; regretful.
    • felt regretful over his vanished youth
    • regretful over mistakes she had made
    • he felt bad about breaking the vase
  9. adjective satellite not capable of being collected
    bad; uncollectible.
    • a bad (or uncollectible) debt
  10. adjective satellite below average in quality or performance
    bad.
    • a bad chess player
    • a bad recital
  11. adjective satellite nonstandard
    bad.
    • so-called bad grammar
  12. adjective satellite not financially safe or secure
    speculative; bad; high-risk; risky.
    • a bad investment
    • high risk investments
    • anything that promises to pay too much can't help being risky
    • speculative business enterprises
  13. adjective satellite physically unsound or diseased
    unsound; bad; unfit.
    • has a bad back
    • a bad heart
    • bad teeth
    • an unsound limb
    • unsound teeth
  14. adjective satellite capable of harming
    bad.
    • bad air
    • smoking is bad for you
  15. adjective satellite characterized by wickedness or immorality
    bad.
    • led a very bad life
  16. adjective satellite reproduced fraudulently
    bad; forged.
    • like a bad penny...
    • a forged twenty dollar bill
  17. adjective satellite not working properly
    bad; defective.
    • a bad telephone connection
    • a defective appliance
  18. adverb (comparative of `ill') in a less effective or successful or desirable manner
    • he did worse on the second exam

WordNet

Worse a., compar. of Bad
Etymology
OE. werse, worse, wurse, AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro, Icel. verri, Sw. värre, Dan. värre, Goth. waírsiza, and probably to OHG. werran to bring into confusion, E. war, and L. verrere to sweep, sweep along. As bad has no comparative and superlative, worse and worst are used in lieu of them, although etymologically they have no relation to bad.
Definitions
  1. Bad, ill, evil, or corrupt, in a greater degree; more bad or evil; less good; specifically, in poorer health; more sick; -- used both in a physical and moral sense.
    Or worse, if men worse can devise. Chaucer.
    [She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. Mark v. 26.
    Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. 2 Tim. iii. 13.
    There are men who seem to believe they are not bad while another can be found worse. Rambler.
    "But I love him." "Love him? Worse and worse." Gay.
Worse noun
Definitions
  1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. "Judah was put to the worse before Israel." Kings xiv. 12.
  2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise.
Worse adverb
Etymology
AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs, Icel. verr, Goth, waírs; a comparative adverb with no corresponding positive. See Worse, a.
Definitions
  1. In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad.
    Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. Gen. xix. 9.
Worse transitive verb
Etymology
OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.
Definitions
  1. To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See Worst, v.
    Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton.

Webster 1913