# worsen

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈwɜːsn̩/ · frequency rank #27,032

## Definitions
1. To make worse; to impair.
2. To become worse; to get worse.
3. To get the better of; to worst.

## Etymology
From Middle English wursnen; equivalent to worse + -en.

## Easily confused with
- **wren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worsen-vs-wren)
- **worst** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worsen-vs-worst)
- **woven** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worsen-vs-woven)
- **wore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wore-vs-worsen)
- **worn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worn-vs-worsen)
- **women** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/women-vs-worsen)
- **worse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worse-vs-worsen)
- **woken** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woken-vs-worsen)
- **worked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worked-vs-worsen)
- **worker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/worker-vs-worsen)
- **wooden** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wooden-vs-worsen)
- **warren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/warren-vs-worsen)
- **warden** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/warden-vs-worsen)
- **woolen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woolen-vs-worsen)
- **workmen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/workmen-vs-worsen)

## Common misspellings (9)
`owrsen`, `woresn`, `worrsen`, `worsenn`, `worsne`, `worssen`, `wosren`, `wrosen`, `wworsen`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/worsen