From year to year, pollution is worsening.
Source: tatoeba (282208)
Worsening
Synonyms for "worsening" (151 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (31)
Noun(5 words)
about faceabout-faceaccommodationadaptationadjustmentaggravationalterationameliorationamplificationannoyanceapostasyaugmentationbettermentbreakchangechange of heartchangeablenesscoming apartconstructive changecontentiousness
Show 5 more words
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (45)
Noun(14 words)
decline in qualitydecline trenddecliningdegeneratedegeneratingdegenerationdegradationdegradedeterioratedeterioratingdeterioratingly notdeterioration trenddeteriorationsdownward trajectory
Verb(1 words)
Related words (75)
fallingfittingflaggingflip flopflip-flopfragmentinggoing to piecesgradual changeheighteningimpairmentimprovementincreaseintensificationirritationlanguishingmagnificationmarcescentmeliorationmitigationmodification
Show 48 more words
modulationoverthrowpiningprovocationqualificationradical changere creationre-creationrealignmentredesignreformreformationregressiverelapseremakingrenewalreshapingrestructuringretrograderetrogressivereversalrevivalrevivificationrevolutionsharpeningshiftshrivelingsinkingslidingslippingslumpingsouringsubsidingsudden changeswitchtabetictotal changetransitionturnturnaboutupheavalvariationvarietyviolent changewaningwastingwiltingwithering
Adjective(1 words)
immediate deterioration
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: deterioration, about face, about-face, accommodation, adaptation.
- Sentence evidence is available for worsening, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "worsening".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "worsening"
Keep "worsening" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "worsening" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "worsening", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "worsening" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesadjectivechangechange of statedeclinediminutionhealth status changemedical conditionmodifierprocesstrajectorytrend
More specific
17 entriesacute deteriorationchronic deteriorationclinical deteriorationdegenerationdeteriorationdisease progressioneconomic declineeconomic downturnenvironmental degradationfunctional declinehealth declinehealth deteriorationinfrastructure deteriorationnegative trendparticipial adjectiveprenominal modifier
Showing 16 of 17 words.
Collocations
9 entriesworsening climateworsening conditionsworsening disparitiesworsening healthworsening outcomesworsening prognosisworsening rateworsening symptomsworsening trend
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
Due to the worsening weather, the departure was delayed.
Source: tatoeba (432796)
Amnesty International said the trial of Sergei Magnitsky, assassinated in a Russian prison, would "open a whole new chapter in Russia's worsening human rights record".
Source: tatoeba (2282396)
Quality of life was worsening.
Source: tatoeba (3149160)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "worsening"?
Closest matches include deterioration, about face, about-face, accommodation, adaptation.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "worsening"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.