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go from bad to worse

VERB
exacerbate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate annoy heighten inflame intensify irritate provoke worsen
STRONG
embitter enrage envenom exasperate excite increase madden vex
WEAK
add insult to injury egg on fan the flames feed the fire heat up hit on push one's button rattle one's cage rub salt in a wound
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid alleviate appease calm delight help improve make happy please soothe
STRONG
comfort compose pacify placate

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.

Firefighters do everything they can, but strong winds are working against them to make the destruction go from bad to worse.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Iwata's day threatened to go from bad to worse as he was robbed by Beni Baningime and Alan Forrest played in Shankland to net.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2024

So when the Panthers traded the 2019 All-Pro running back to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night, the only logical expectation was the Panthers would go from bad to worse, right?

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2022

Europe’s economic outlook continues to go from bad to worse.

From New York Times • Aug. 31, 2022

Our tactless mother, especially, only made things go from bad to worse.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

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