worst

1 of 4

adjective

ˈwərst

Synonyms of worst next

superlative of bad

or of ill

: most corrupt, bad, evil, or ill

his worst fault

: most unfavorable, difficult, unpleasant, or painful

the worst news

your worst enemy

: most unsuitable, faulty, unattractive, or ill-conceived

has the worst table manners

: least skillful or efficient

the worst person for the job

: most wanting in quality, value, or condition

the worst results

worst

2 of 4

adverb

superlative of ill

or illy

or of bad

or badly

: to the extreme degree of badness or inferiority

the worst dressed person

: to the greatest or highest degree

groups who need the subsidies worst lose out—

T. W. Arnold

worst

3 of 4

noun

plural worst

: one that is worst

worst

4 of 4

verb

worsted; worsting; worsts

transitive verb

: to get the better of : defeat

Phrases

the worst way

: very much

such men … need indoctrination the worst way—

J. G. Cozzens

—often used with in

wanted a new bicycle in the worst way

at worst

: under the worst circumstances

Examples of worst in a Sentence

Adjective This is the worst car I've ever bought. In my opinion, it's her worst book. It was the worst movie I've ever seen. His worst quality is his impatience. This has got to be the worst day of my life. The worst part of working there is the long commute. My worst fears came true. He lives in the worst area of the city. He is the worst singer I've ever heard. They're the worst team ever. Adverb My sister was hurt worst. the areas worst hit by the drought She was voted the worst-dressed celebrity of 2005. Noun What's the worst that can happen? When it comes to dancing, he is the worst. That movie was the worst! He is the worst of the bunch. He is one of the worst in the class. Even in the worst of times, she was hopeful. It's still raining, but the worst of the storm is over now. The worst of it is, I don't even know how to contact her. The company was operating on high costs and low prices—the worst of both worlds. Verb how humiliating for a tennis champ to be worsted by a player no one had ever heard of

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But all of that would’ve been forgiven if Golden State’s offense didn’t cool down at the worst possible time. —

C.j. Holmes, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2023 Continue below to see the top 10 best and worst cities for football fans in 2023. —

Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for worst

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'worst.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English werste, worste, from Old English wierresta, wyrsta, superlative of the root of Old English wiersa worse

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1636, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of worst was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Worst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worst. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

worst

1 of 4 adjective

ˈwərst

superlative of bad

or of ill

: most bad, evil, or ill

his worst habit

: most unfavorable, unpleasant, or painful

the worst problem imaginable

: most unsuitable, faulty, unattractive, or ill-conceived

has the worst manners

: least skillful or efficient

the worst plumber you can hire

: most wanting in quality, value, or condition

farmed the worst land

worst

2 of 4 adverb

superlative of bad

or badly

or of ill

: to the greatest degree of badness

sings worst

: to the greatest degree

needed help worst

worst

3 of 4 noun

: one that is worst

always chooses the worst

: the greatest degree of ill or badness

if worse comes to worst

worst

4 of 4 verb

: to get the better of : defeat

worsted his opponents

Medical Definition

worst

superlative of ill

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

agrarian

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

worst

adjective

adverb

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of worst in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near worst

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition