deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt 
dē-
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make inferior in quality or value : impair
Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.
2
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate
his health deteriorated
Examples of deteriorate in a Sentence
efforts to save a deteriorating rain forest
Exposure to rain and sun will gradually deteriorate the paint.
Recent Examples on the Web
That meeting was brief — less than 30 minutes — and communication had deteriorated ever since.
—
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Sharon eventually canceled the farewell tour after repeatedly postponing the dates, and Ozzy continued to steadily deteriorate.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, spending by low-income consumers is deteriorating, hurt by unaffordable housing and a jobs market, the main driver of income and spending, that’s showing signs of weakening.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
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Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Sharon eventually canceled the farewell tour after repeatedly postponing the dates, and Ozzy continued to steadily deteriorate.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, spending by low-income consumers is deteriorating, hurt by unaffordable housing and a jobs market, the main driver of income and spending, that’s showing signs of weakening.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make or become worse or of less value : degenerate
deterioration
noun
-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən
Medical Definition
deteriorate
intransitive verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
her health deteriorated
deteriorating vision
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