deterioration

noun de·te·ri·o·ra·tion \ di-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən , dē- \

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Examples: deterioration in a Sentence

Definition of deterioration

: the action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, functioning, or condition : the state of having deteriorated

rust deterioration

the deterioration of academic standards

See deterioration defined for English-language learners

Examples of deterioration in a Sentence

the gradual deterioration of the weather
a deterioration of academic standards

Recent Examples of deterioration from the Web

The deterioration of living standards: inadequate health care, housing, living wage jobs and environmental degradation for millions of working class people and families throughout the state.

— sacbee, "Antonia Hernandez," 5 June 2018
Market Reaction The monthly declines in Asia come down to a change in investor sentiment rather than a marked deterioration in the region’s economic fundamentals, said Ben Luk, global macro strategist at State Street in Hong Kong.

— saumya vaishampayan, WSJ, "It’s Been a Bleak Month for Asian Stocks," 31 May 2018
Any suggestion of a deterioration and a PHEIC should be called.

— jon cohen, Science | AAAS, "Despite spread to port city, Congo Ebola outbreak isn’t an international emergency yet, WHO says," 18 May 2018
Alfie’s father, Thomas Evans, said the boy had shown no deterioration, three days after being taken off a ventilator.

— jill lawless, BostonGlobe.com, "Alfie Evans’ parents to meet doctors in bid to take him home," 27 Apr. 2018
The deterioration in federal finances, which is putting the U.S. debt profile on track to resemble Italy’s, is becoming more glaring ahead of crucial midterm elections in November.

— Bloomberg.com, "Mnuchin's Treasury Poised to Rev Up Supply as Budget Gap Widens," 26 Apr. 2018
Maybe one day the whole story behind the deterioration of Saints-Snead will be revealed.

— larry holder, NOLA.com, "Willie Snead's rise and fall with Saints ends in departure to Baltimore," 23 Apr. 2018
During the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government on Thursday in London, a proposal was announced to phase out single-use plastics, which cannot be recycled and contribute to ocean deterioration, damaging ecosystems and wildlife.

— raisa bruner, Time, "The U.K. Might Want to Ban All Plastic Straws and Drink Stirrers So Savor Those Sips Today," 19 Apr. 2018
If Chicago were to be saved from the onslaught of deterioration, force would have to be mustered and renewal marched systematically against the blight.

— aimee levitt, Chicago Reader, "Architecture / Archive Dive / History / Neighborhoods / News How the city cleared out the north side to make room for Sandburg Village and white prosperity," 19 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of deterioration

see deteriorate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1658

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

deterioration Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of deterioration

deterioration, degeneration, decadence, decline mean the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality. deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness.

- the deterioration of the house through neglect

degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

- the degeneration of their youthful idealism into cynicism

decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy.

- cited love of luxury as a sign of cultural decadence

decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.