worst

1 of 4

adjective

ˈwərst 

superlative of bad

or of ill

1

: most corrupt, bad, evil, or ill

his worst fault

2

a

: most unfavorable, difficult, unpleasant, or painful

the worst news

your worst enemy

b

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

has the worst table manners

c

: least skillful or efficient

the worst person for the job

3

: 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

1

: to the extreme degree of badness or inferiority

the worst dressed person

2

: 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

Synonyms

Verb

• beat
• best
• conquer
• defeat
• dispatch
• do down [British]
• get
• get around
• lick
• master
• overbear
• overcome
• overmatch
• prevail (over)
• skunk
• stop
• subdue
• surmount
• take
• trim
• triumph (over)
• upend
• win (against)

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

Adverb

Historically, most Republicans have been indifferent at best and hostile at worst to policies that aim to cut the nation’s planet-warming emissions. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

These are dizzying days to be a Nottingham Forest fan Sabres off to worst start since 2017-18. —New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024

Noun

Stewart, a former No. 1 overall pick, struggled during the postseason run, averaging career playoff worsts in points per game and field-goal percentage. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 10 Oct. 2024

Over 43 games, Slater is posting career worsts in batting average (.200), slugging percentage (.244) and OPS (.575). —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 7 July 2024

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

Phrases Containing worst

• bring out the worst in
• expect the worst
• fear the worst
• get the worst of it
• if (the) worse comes to (the) worst
• if (the) worst comes to (the) worst
• in the worst way
• the worst
• the worst of both worlds
• the worst of enemies
• the worst way
• worst-case
• worst nightmare
• worst of all

Kids Definition

worst

1 of 4 adjective

ˈwərst 

superlative of bad

or of ill

1

: most bad, evil, or ill

his worst habit

2

a

: most unfavorable, unpleasant, or painful

the worst problem imaginable

b

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

has the worst manners

c

: least skillful or efficient

the worst plumber you can hire

3

: most wanting in quality, value, or condition

farmed the worst land

worst

2 of 4 adverb

superlative of bad

or badly

or of ill

1

: to the greatest degree of badness

sings worst

2

: to the greatest degree

needed help worst

worst

3 of 4 noun

1

: one that is worst

always chooses the worst

2

: 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