ATROPHY Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

atrophy 1 of 2

verb

Definition of atrophy

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

atrophy

2 of 2

noun

as in degeneration

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of atrophy

Verb

Spending more than six months in space comes with other potential health risks, including the weakening and loss of bone and atrophying muscles. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 26 May 2026 Building that processing infrastructure at commercial scale in the US involves not only capital expenditure but also workforce development in a sector where domestic technical expertise has atrophied. — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026

Noun

The vital capabilities of questioning a source or personalizing a message for a specific buyer start to atrophy. — Ray Makela, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Over time, some worry, the next generation of mathematicians may suffer from a form of intellectual atrophy, unable to think outside the AI box that trained them. — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for atrophy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy

Verb

The exact cause isn’t known, but Parkinson’s develops when cells that produce one of the brain’s chemical messengers — dopamine — begin to deteriorate and die.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
At the risk level, probability models can detect deteriorating household conditions, weakening purchase intentions or rising caution before these forces appear in traditional economic releases.

— Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Noun

The illness causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to die, leading to a degeneration of muscle control.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
The finding challenges long-standing anatomical assumptions and links spinal lymphatic dysfunction to neurological disorders and vertebral degeneration, reframing just how central this network is to whole-body health.

— Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026

Definition of degeneration

Verb

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson, who previously oversaw the prosecution against Hermes, declined to comment on the closed criminal case or Hermes’ campaign.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
However, declining vaccination rates fueled by vaccine hesitancy have created pockets of susceptible individuals where the virus can spread quickly.

— Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of decline

Noun

The first round of the kinetic war between the US and Iran did result in a deterioration in the global growth data, as seen in the Citibank global growth surprise index.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 July 2026
The eagle was then transported to the Ojai Raptor Center, where the reason for her deterioration remains unknown.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of deterioration

Verb

Inspired by the bright, herb-forward flavors of traditional Middle Eastern tabbouleh, this hearty variation replaces bulgur with fluffy couscous and adds roasted eggplant and crumbled feta for extra substance and depth.

— Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Tribal leaders warn that unstable oversight and crumbling facilities endanger Native students’ futures.

— Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

According to court documents, Wilson’s relationship with the producers had started deteriorating before filming began in 2023 – and worsened during post-production.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Weakening commodity prices and a worsening industrial relations climate in Australia is draining investor enthusiasm for the world’s biggest mining company, BHP.

— Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of worsen

Noun

The book argues that democracies erode through the backsliding of democratic ideals like mutual tolerance, along with legal processes like the weakening of independent courts.

— Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia-Pacific at Capital Economics said the strength in export values is almost entirely a result of soaring export prices, which reflects both the weakening of the yen as well as soaring prices of memory chips.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 July 2026

Definition of weakening

Browse Nearby Words

atrophies

atrophy

atrophying

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“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of atrophy

verb

noun

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