make matters worse

idiom
UK: /meɪk ˈmætəz wɜːs/
US: /meɪk ˈmætərz wɜːrs/

  1. To worsen a situation; to cause further problems or difficulties.

    1. Don't argue, you'll only make matters worse.
    2. Trying to lie about it will only make matters worse in the long run, so be honest.

Synonyms

worsen exacerbate inflame compound aggravate
make matters worse phrasal-verb

  1. To exacerbate an already problematic situation; to increase the severity of something negative.

    1. Rain will make matters worse for the outdoor event.
    2. His constant complaining only served to make matters worse during the crisis at work.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "make matters worse" is /meɪk ˈmætəz wɜːs/ in British English and /meɪk ˈmætərz wɜːrs/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "make matters worse": worsen, exacerbate, inflame, compound, aggravate.

Example usage of "make matters worse": "Don't argue, you'll only make matters worse.". More examples on the page.