WORSENING

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does worsening mean? 

• WORSENING (noun)
  The noun WORSENING has 2 senses:

1. process of changing to an inferior state

2. changing something with the result that it becomes worse

  Familiarity information: WORSENING used as a noun is rare.

• WORSENING (adjective)
  The adjective WORSENING has 1 sense:

1. changing for the worse

  Familiarity information: WORSENING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WORSENING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Process of changing to an inferior state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

declension; decline in quality; deterioration; worsening

Hypernyms ("worsening" is a kind of...):

decline; diminution (change toward something smaller or lower)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "worsening"):

drop-off; falling off; falloff; slack; slump (a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality)

Derivation:

worsen (grow worse)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Changing something with the result that it becomes worse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("worsening" is a kind of...):

change of state (the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "worsening"):

downswing; downturn (a worsening of business or economic activity)

Derivation:

worsen (make worse)

• WORSENING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Changing for the worse

Context example:

worried by the worsening storm

Antonym:

bettering (changing for the better)

 Context examples 

The scientists found that 77 of the 229 participants (34%) in the 5-day treatment group experienced worsening symptoms and signs of infection, compared to 39 of 238 (16%) in the 10-day treatment group.

(No benefit to shortening ear infection treatment, NIH)

Supplementation of immunoglobulins is needed to prevent worsening outcomes.

(Hypogammaglobulinemia, NCI Thesaurus)

It is further characterized by an inflammatory reaction in the glomerular capillaries and the effacement of the surrounding epithelial cell foot processes worsening protein leakage.

(Nephrotic Syndrome with Lesion of Minimal Change Glomerulonephritis, NCI Thesaurus)

It can cause coughing, throat irritation, worsening of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

(Ozone, Environmental Protection Agency)

The worsening of a disease over time.

(Disease progression, NCI Thesaurus)

Examples of outcomes include decreased pain, reduced tumor size, or worsening of disease.

(Disease Outcome, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Animal studies also pointed to an effect of high blood sugar in worsening stroke injury.

(Researchers get a handle on how to control blood sugar after stroke, National Institutes of Health)

The new findings also revealed the increase in free water was linked to worsening symptoms.

(Waterlogged brain region helps scientists gauge damage caused by Parkinson’s disease, National Institutes of Health)

Although there are currently no treatments that reverse atherosclerosis, lifestyle interventions such as improved diet and increased exercise can reduce the risk of the condition worsening; early detection can minimise this risk.

(Observation of blood vessel cells changing function could lead to early detection of blocked arteries, University of Cambridge)

A question about whether an individual is or was bothered by worsening eyesight.

(Bothered by Worsening Eyesight, NCI Thesaurus)