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

The pushback there is tepid at best and non-existent at worst.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

This creates short-term duplication and confusion at best — and mid- to long-term losses, at worst.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

It’s a contradiction at best, and hypocrisy at worst.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

At best Lorren would think I was delusional, at worst, a foolish child.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss