expect the worst

phrase

: to assume that something very bad will happen
We expect the worst when we return home after the storm passes.

Examples of expect the worst in a Sentence

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So when athletic director Chris McIntosh came knocking in the midst of a six-game skid, Fickell expected the worst. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 27 July 2026 Because of the Magic’s injury history, everybody expected the worst, but, thankfully, Franz was able to walk off the court on his own power and returned to action late in the third quarter. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026 Big tech companies are laying off workers in the thousands, with CEOs expecting the worst and predicting soaring employment rates among college graduates — while gleefully cutting costs at their companies and not looking back. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026 Experiences of inconsistent or insensitive care can lead you to expect the worst of other people, a core feature of insecure attachment. — Jessica A. Stern, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expect the worst

Rhymes for expect the worst

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Browse Nearby Words

expectorator
expect the worst
expede
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Cite this Entry

“Expect the worst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expect%20the%20worst. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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