deteriorate

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

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: deteriorate in a Sentence

Definition of deteriorate

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

His once-close relationship with Krause had deteriorated, the stress of losing — and doing so with two rebuilding plans in four seasons and so many young players — wearing on both men.

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Tim Floyd appreciative as he looks back on 40-year coaching career: 'I was really grateful to Jerry Reinsdorf'," 13 July 2018
In January, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Isaac Moss used the robot to remove and fuse a patient’s deteriorated spinal discs using only small incisions, according to UConn.

— rebecca lurye, courant.com, "UConn Health Is First U.S. Hospital With Augmented Reality Surgical Microscope," 12 July 2018
The old rowhouse would deteriorate for three more years.

— tim prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Collapse: The rise and deadly fall of a Baltimore rowhouse," 12 July 2018
The back and forth, tit-for-tat actions and reactions between these two couples living side by side starts badly and promptly deteriorates.

— kenneth turan, latimes.com, "Bleak Icelandic comedy ‘Under the Tree’ finds there’s no place like home for savagery," 5 July 2018
The weather deteriorated, causing a dramatic increase and shift in wind speed and direction.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "Granite Mountain Hotshots: An untold story from the day 19 firefighters died," 23 June 2018
Since then, living conditions and prospects for a life in Europe have deteriorated.

— robin hammond, National Geographic, "After Fleeing War, Refugee Children Face Lasting Psychological Trauma," 20 June 2018
The former Motley Crue drummer’s relationship with his son has deteriorated badly -- and publicly -- in recent months.

— lars brandle, Billboard, "Tommy Lee's Son Posts Video of Motley Crue Drummer Apparently Unconscious," 18 June 2018
Unfortunately, my bartending skills have deteriorated significantly over time.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Finally, a Way to Get Drunk on LaCroix," 15 June 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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