: involving, projecting, or providing for the worst possible circumstances or outcome of a given situation
a worst-case scenario

Examples of worst-case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That hope is built in part on traders’ belief that Trump probably would be turned off by the damage Wall Street would take if a worst-case, long-term trade war were to occur. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025 If federal cuts are made, both Lamont and Looney said that lawmakers might be forced to dip into the state’s rainy day fund for fiscal emergencies in a worst-case scenario. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2025 While European leaders have accelerated planning for a worst-case scenario in which the Kremlin pushes troops further into the continent and Washington does not come to their aid, Trump has made increasingly strong threats against his Russian counterpart. Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025 Under a worst-case scenario, tariffs and deportations could both goose inflation and reduce consumer spending and economic growth. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for worst-case 

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of worst-case was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near worst-case

Cite this Entry

“Worst-case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worst-case. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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