deteriorate

verb de·te·ri·o·rate \ di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt , dē- \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

deteriorated; deteriorating

transitive verb

1 : to make inferior in quality or value : impair

Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.

2 : disintegrate

intransitive verb

: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate

allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate

his health deteriorated

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deteriorative

play \-ˌrā-tiv\ adjective

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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 of deteriorate from the Web

When his father had shot the deer in 1923, the process for mounting involved stuffing the animal's hide with sawdust, newspaper or straw, materials that deteriorate much quicker than today's technologies.

— blake bacho, Detroit Free Press, "Deer mount returned to Michigan family after nearly 4 decades," 1 Apr. 2018
But if the situation between Bryant and the organization (see: Jerry and Stephen Jones) deteriorates, Nelson might be worth a look, assuming another team doesn't snatch him up first.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "Jordy Nelson hits the free agent market. Is he worth a look in Dallas? | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 13 Mar. 2018
And Turkey, facing the prospect of sanctions, is aware that deteriorating relations could hurt its economy.

— Washington Post, "U.S. moving to repair relations with Turkey, endangering ties with Kurdish allies," 10 Mar. 2018
More likely, the sewage problem would become another bellicose pressure point in his ever-deteriorating relations with Mexico.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego needs to make more noise about Mexican sewage spills," 7 Mar. 2018
Ongoing deficits and deteriorating relations also brought about pay cuts, a shorter season and a shrinking orchestra.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Why Atlanta Symphony musicians are happy," 5 Mar. 2018
Gertler is being targeted because of the West’s deteriorating relations with Kabila, Yuma said.

— thomas wilson, Bloomberg.com, "Congo Bribery Probe Puts Israeli Billionaire’s Future on Hold," 23 Feb. 2018
The possibility of a military conflict between two NATO allies is unprecedented but, after years of deteriorating relations between Turkey and the United States, not unthinkable.

— rod nordland, New York Times, "A Visit to the Tense Front Line Between Kurds and Turks," 1 Feb. 2018
For some weeks, there had been a mounting anxiety as the media reported deteriorating relations between the superpowers.

— nan randall, The Atlantic, "'Charlottesville': A Government-Commissioned Story About Nuclear War," 25 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deteriorate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of deteriorate

Late Latin deterioratus, past participle of deteriorare, from Latin deterior worse, from de- + -ter (suffix as in Latin uter which of two) + -ior (comparative suffix) — more at ²whether, -er

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First Known Use: 1572

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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