worst-case
adjective
: involving, projecting, or providing for the worst possible circumstances or outcome of a given situation
a worst-case scenario
Examples of worst-case in a Sentence
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Some have calculated that in a worst-case scenario, climate change could eventually redistribute water in a way that would make the days milliseconds longer.
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Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025
Impressively, despite otherwise lower international turnout than hoped for, Superman’s word-of-mouth superpower helped it to a terrific hold almost everywhere except Asia-Pacific, specifically China where the Man of Steel is facing a worst-case flop and will finish with less than $10 million total.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
In a worst-case scenario, a personality clash could result in more aggravation than achievement.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Isolated locations could face a reasonable worst-case scenario of five to seven inches or more, according to the weather service.
—Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
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Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 22 July 2025
Impressively, despite otherwise lower international turnout than hoped for, Superman’s word-of-mouth superpower helped it to a terrific hold almost everywhere except Asia-Pacific, specifically China where the Man of Steel is facing a worst-case flop and will finish with less than $10 million total.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
In a worst-case scenario, a personality clash could result in more aggravation than achievement.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Isolated locations could face a reasonable worst-case scenario of five to seven inches or more, according to the weather service.
—Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for worst-case
Cite this Entry
“Worst-case.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worst-case. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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