Definitions

at worst

ADVERB

partly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

at least partially slightly somewhat

WEAK

at best at most bit by bit by degrees carelessly halfway in a general way in bits and pieces in part in some measure in some ways inadequately incompletely insufficiently little by little measurably not entirely not fully not strictly speaking not wholly notably noticeably piece by piece piecemeal relatively so far as possible to a certain degree to a certain extent up to a certain point within limits

Antonyms

WEAK

completely totally wholly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet enforcement of firearm relinquishment remains at best inconsistent and at worst nonexistent.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

“It’s not that long ago where, if you talked to a House or Senate Democrat, there were a nontrivial number who were, at worst, tariff-curious,” Kumar said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

The current “Comeback” storyline is the brighter side of the “AI Doc” coin in that Al’s glitches are surreal and hilarious at worst.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

John Davies, then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon emailed Morgan, who was Archbishop of Wales at that time, and said he hoped Pierce would get a caution at worst or "nothing further done at best".

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

People too firmly rooted to the center of their lives find such questions uncongenial at best, quite distasteful at worst.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

at worst

Example Sentences

Related Words