worst
worst Lexical Profile
worst Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Of the poorest quality, lowest standard, or least desirable kind; serving as the superlative of 'bad' or 'ill'.
"That was the worst movie we have seen in years."
Most severe, serious, or unpleasant in degree or effect.
"The coast experienced the worst storm of the decade last night."
• adverb
Most badly, severely, or unfavorably; serving as the superlative of 'badly' or 'ill'.
"Farming communities in the valley were the worst affected by the summer drought."
• noun
The most serious, unpleasant, or undesirable part, state, event, or possibility.
"The doctors assured the family that the worst of the fever had passed."
• verb
To get the better of or defeat in a contest, debate, or struggle.
"The young chess prodigy managed to worst the defending champion in the final round."
Word Nuance & Usage
When comparing exactly two items, formal grammar requires the comparative 'worse' (e.g., 'the worse of the two options'), while 'worst' is reserved for comparing three or more.
• Rhymes for worst
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'wyrrest' or 'wyrst', from Proto-Germanic '*wirsistaz', functioning historically as the suppletive superlative of 'bad', 'evil', and 'ill'.