deteriorate

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

|Updated on: 6 Jun 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

The river's infrastructure is deteriorating faster than it's being replaced.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The Mississippi River lock and dam system is critical to the economy. But it's falling apart fast.," 1 June 2018
On reporter Nadege Green's Twitter post of her WLRN radio piece on the blackface issue, the commentary that followed quickly deteriorated into disparaging comments about the Cuban community and a threat to put an end to the issue with violence.

— fabiola santiago, miamiherald, "A conversation about racism in Miami should include all groups – not just Cubans," 1 June 2018
The notion of what constitutes a neighborhood and a neighbor has deteriorated these days into demands for deportations and a border wall.

— peter keough, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ is an invitation not to be passed up," 31 May 2018
During her first week in the United States, Roxy's body and spirit quickly deteriorated.

— nicole chavez, CNN, "Transgender woman in migrant caravan dies in ICE custody," 31 May 2018
While at the home, the suit said, DeBrodie was forced to do manual, unpaid labor and sleep on the floor of the basement without a bed or mattress — all while his health was deteriorating.

— kaitlyn schwers, kansascity, "Caregivers forced him to fight and left him in bathtub to die, lawsuit says," 30 May 2018
What was once a political kinship forged around the values of the Reagan revolution has deteriorated into a nasty rivalry in a state where Republicans can scarcely afford it.

— Washington Post, "Republicans turn on each other in California US House fight," 29 May 2018
Things were rapidly deteriorating for Anna Delvey in New York.

— jessica pressler, The Cut, "Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It," 28 May 2018
Relations between the United States and the Filipino insurgents quickly deteriorated.

— christina lords, idahostatesman, "He was the 1st Idahoan killed in action. And he died in a war you've probably never heard of. | Idaho Statesman," 27 May 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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