What's worst?

Why use a superlative? A local mayor said that a new soccer field is the "biggest need" in his city. A sports’ official said to the media that the loss of a Florida football player after a recent shooting, was "the worst tragedy imaginable." Pat Buchanan said mutual trade between Canada, the United States and Mexico would be the "greatest single threat to our sovereignty." What is the purpose of using an adverb such as worst, biggest, best, greatest, most? When is it appropriate?

F. Scott Fitzgerald, a writer in the roaring 20's, who believed that a hero is often synonymous with a tragedy (which his life proved), said: "The worst things: To be in bed and sleep not, To want for one who comes not, To try to please and please not." (From an Egyptian proverb)

Insomnia, loneliness and inadequacy - can each can be symptomatic of the worst fate? What is the ultimate undesirable condition? The loss of faith in God, hopelessness in life which is worse than death.

Politicians and sports fans, homo sapiens as a species, often rush to judgment and fail to put thought before words. This is too bad (meaning to an excessive degree), but not the worst behavior for which there can be no equal. The worst fate is the loss of a soul to the Devil.