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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in degeneration
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
The 2022 invasion reinvigorated a domestic defense industry that had atrophied beyond recognition since Soviet times.
—Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
And while public sector unions were expanding, private sector unions were beginning to atrophy.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrophy
Verb
The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke.
—New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
The 2022 invasion reinvigorated a domestic defense industry that had atrophied beyond recognition since Soviet times.
—Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Doctors suggest that estrogen replacement is what may partially reverse what is known as vaginal atrophy.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
And while public sector unions were expanding, private sector unions were beginning to atrophy.
—Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrophy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy
Verb
-
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly once snow begins, and hazardous conditions could persist into Sunday morning before snow tapers off.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Travel conditions could deteriorate rapidly as early as Friday evening.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The risk of gastroparesis, hair loss, rapid muscle degeneration, tooth loss, anhedonia, and vision loss are dismissed as acceptable trade-offs in the war against fat.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The symptoms of Huntington’s disease develop from degeneration of brain regions that control movement and thinking.—
Brigid Dwyer,
Verywell Health,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Coleman declined to pursue the case, a police report said.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Across the other devices, both Mac and Wearables, Home & Accessories sales declined year over year, while the market anticipated slight growth.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cleaning Products And Chemicals Paint, fertilizer, weed killer, pool cleaners, and other temperature-sensitive chemicals should be brought indoors for the winter to prevent freezing and deterioration.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Motorists traveling across the area this morning, including along I-85 and I-77 through Charlotte metro and vicinity, should be prepared for sudden deterioration in visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The old guard is crumbling, as the NCAA no longer regulates the economic exchange of value between schools and their players—not to mention the outside intervention of third-party interests.—
Dr. Marcus Collins,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But questions kept coming, and my trust was crumbling.—
Margaret Keane,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the steppe everything crumbles and decays.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
However, a crack can expose a tree to fungal infection or decay, which could lead to the tree dying.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On the other hand, by lowering rates to stimulate hiring, the Fed threatens to boost spending and worsen inflation.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The betrayal was exacerbated by back-and-forth arguing online and the posting of explicit material, only worsened when the two groups met up in Oakland the night of the shooting.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Developers are divided about how much this signals a weakening of what has been a scorchingly hot market for new multifamily housing.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Affordability has become a potent political issue, especially with the job market weakening.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
