worse / wərs/ • adj. 1. comparative of bad, ill.2. of poorer quality or a lower standard; less good or desirable: the accommodations were awful, and the food was worse. ∎  more serious or severe: the movement made the pain worse. ∎  more reprehensible or evil: it is worse to intend harm than to be indifferent. ∎  in a less satisfactory or pleasant condition; more ill or unhappy: he felt worse, and groped his way back to bed.• adv. 1. comparative of badly, ill. 2. less well or skillfully: the more famous I became the worse I painted. ∎  more seriously or severely: the others had been drunk too, worse than herself. ∎  used to introduce a statement of circumstances felt by the speaker to be more serious or undesirable than others already mentioned: The system will find it hard to sort out property disputes. Even worse, the law will discourage foreign investment.• n. a more serious or unpleasant event or circumstance: the small department was already stretched to the limit, but worse was to follow. ∎  (the worse) a less good, favorable, or pleasant condition: the weather changed for the worse.PHRASES: none the worse for not adversely affected by: we were none the worse for our terrible experience.or worse used to suggest a possibility that is still more serious or unpleasant than one already considered, but that the speaker does not wish or need to specify: the child might be born blind or worse.so much the worse for —— used to suggest that a problem, failure, or other unfortunate event or situation is the fault of the person specified and that the speaker does not feel any great concern about it: if his subjects were unwilling to accept the progress her offered, so much the worse for them.the worse for wear inf. 1. damaged by use or weather over time; battered and shabby.2. (of a person) feeling rather unwell, esp. as a result of drinking too much alcohol.worse lucksee luck.worse off in a less advantageous position; less fortunate or prosperous.