at worst
Idioms-
Also, at the worst.
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In the least favorable circumstance; under the most difficult conditions. For example, Convicted of taking a bribe, the official believed that at worst he would be sentenced to a few months in prison . [1500s]
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In the least favorable view or supposition, as in No harm done; at the worst I'll copy the tax return again . Chaucer used this sense in Troilus and Cressida: “For at the worst, it may yet short our way.” [Late 1300s] For the antonym, see at best .
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.
The current “Comeback” storyline is the brighter side of the “AI Doc” coin in that Al’s glitches are surreal and hilarious at worst.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
It’s a contradiction at best, and hypocrisy at worst.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
John Davies, then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon emailed Morgan, who was Archbishop of Wales at that time, and said he hoped Pierce would get a caution at worst or "nothing further done at best".
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026
Are these the kinds of important tasks you want to give a person who has already shown themselves to have bad judgment at best, and to be untrustworthy at worst?
From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026
People wanted to like him, they wanted to believe him, but he was undependable and self-centered at best, mischievous or evil at worst.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
