worse

Noun · Adjective · Adverb

Synonyms: worsened

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

something inferior in quality or condition or effect“for better or for worse”“accused of cheating and lying and worse”

Adjective (2)

(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”
changed for the worse in health or fitness“I feel worse today”“her cold is worse”Synonyms: worsened

Adverb (1)

(comparative of `ill') in a less effective or successful or desirable manner“he did worse on the second exam”

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Worse \Worse\, n.

1.Loss; disadvantage; defeat. "Judah was put to the worse before Israel." --Kings xiv. 12. [1913 Webster]

2.That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise. [1913 Webster]

Worse \Worse\, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs, Icel. verr, Goth, wa['i]rs; a comparative adverb with no corresponding positive. See Worse, a.] In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad. [1913 Webster]

Now will we deal worse with thee than with them. --Gen. xix. 9. [1913 Webster]

Worse \Worse\, a., compar. of Bad. [OE. werse, worse, wurse, AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro, Icel. verri, Sw. v[aum]rre, Dan. v[aum]rre, Goth. wa['i]rsiza, 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.] 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. [1913 Webster]

Or worse, if men worse can devise. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

[She] was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. --Mark v. 26. [1913 Webster]

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. --2 Tim. iii. 13. [1913 Webster]

There are men who seem to believe they are not bad while another can be found worse. --Rambler. [1913 Webster]

"But I love him." "Love him? Worse and worse." --Gay. [1913 Webster]

Worse \Worse\, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.] To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See Worst, v. [1913 Webster]

Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Bad \Bad\ (b[a^]d), a. [Compar. Worse (w[^u]s); superl. Worst (w[^u]st).] [Probably fr. AS. b[ae]ddel hermaphrodite; cf. b[ae]dling effeminate fellow.] Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious, hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or defective, either physically or morally; evil; vicious; wicked; -- the opposite of good; as, a bad man; bad conduct; bad habits; bad soil; bad air; bad health; a bad crop; bad news.

Note: Sometimes used substantively. [1913 Webster]

The strong antipathy of good to bad.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Pernicious; deleterious; noxious; baneful; injurious; hurtful; evil; vile; wretched; corrupt; wicked; vicious; imperfect. [1913 Webster]