Pronunciations (5)
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/wɜːst/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/wɔːst/
Pronunciation notes
- Northumbria
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/wɜɹst/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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wɜːst
Pronunciation notes
- GB
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wɝst
Pronunciation notes
- US
Adjective
superlative form of bad: most bad Most inferior; doing the least good.
Usage- for non-slang definitions
- Examples
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I think putting oil on a burn is the worst thing you can do.
superlative form of bad: most bad Most unfavorable.
Usage- for non-slang definitions
- Examples
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That's the worst news I've had all day.
superlative form of bad: most bad Most harmful or severe.
Usage- for non-slang definitions
- Examples
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The worst storm we had last winter knocked down our power lines.
superlative form of bad: most bad Used with the definite article and an implied noun: something that is worst.
Usage- for non-slang definitions
- Examples
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None of these photographs of me are good, but this one is definitely the worst.
Noun
Something or someone that is the worst.
- Examples
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The humorist helps people to explore and confront their worsts
Verb
To make worse.
Usage- Archaic
- Transitive
To grow worse; to deteriorate.
Usage- Dated
- Intransitive
- Examples
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Anne haggard, Mary coarse, every face in the neighbourhood worsting.
To outdo or defeat, especially in battle.
Usage- Rare
- Examples
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The […] Philistines were worsted by the captivated ark.
More examples (1)
Her joy and pride in the honour paid to her darling son Adam was beginning to be worsted in the conflict with the jealousy and fretfulness which had revived when Adam came to tell her that Captain Donnithorne desired him to join the dancers in the hall.
Jo carried her love of liberty and hate of conventionalities to such an unlimited extent that she naturally found herself worsted in an argument.
More examples (1)
The higher classes see the unions, the strikes, the May Day Celebrations, and feel the calamity that is threatening them, and their terror passes into an instinct of self-defense and hatred. They know that if for one instant they are worsted in the struggle with their oppressed slaves, they will perish, because the slaves are exasperated and their exasperation is growing more intense with every day of oppression.
Adjective
(superlative of ‘bad’) most wanting in quality or value or condition
- Antonyms
- Examples
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the worst player on the team
the worst weather of the year
Noun
the least favorable outcome
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the worst that could happen
the greatest damage or wickedness of which one is capable
- Examples
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the invaders did their worst
so pure of heart that his worst is another man's best
the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of
- Antonyms
- Examples
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it was the worst he had ever done on a test
Adverb
to the highest degree of inferiority or badness
- Examples
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She suffered worst of all
schools were the worst hit by government spending cuts
More examples (1)
the worst dressed person present
Verb
defeat thoroughly
- Examples
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He mopped up the floor with his opponents