deterioration

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

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

Shannon O'Neil, senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses deterioration in Venezuela and possibility of a refugee crisis.

— Bloomberg.com, "CFR’s O'Neil Says Venezuela May Spur Refugee Crisis," 24 Aug. 2017
Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld has said Metro needs the additional funds starting in July 2018 or risk seeing a further deterioration in infrastructure and service.

— robert mccartney, Washington Post, "New dispute over cost of fixing Metro pits District against Virginia and Maryland," 24 Aug. 2017
As a result, the animals endured chronic physical suffering and psychological deterioration.

— Smithsonian, "Discussion," 24 Aug. 2017
That position makes his deterioration at the hands of an unjust justice system even more wrenching.

— benjamin lindsay, HWD, "Algee Smith, Detroit’s Magnetic Breakout, Has Swag to Spare," 9 Aug. 2017
Surely iGen doesn’t have a monopoly on deterioration.

— heidi stevens, chicagotribune.com, "Just let the guy love his curvy wife already," 8 Aug. 2017
Testing determines whether the retiree has a cognitive impairment and can be used to identify any deterioration later in life.

— chadd cripe, idahostatesman, "‘I hope it doesn’t catch up with me in the long run:’ Boise State coach on CTE," 5 Aug. 2017
The recessions at the beginning and end of the 1990s caused further deterioration in the rate.

— edward l. glaeser, National Review, "The War on Work — and How to End It," 1 Aug. 2017
Some of that increase was obviously caused by a deterioration in the economy—investors realised that bond issuers were more likely to default.

— The Economist, "ButtonwoodCould bond funds break the market?," 20 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

deterioration Synonyms

Synonyms

debilitation, decay, decaying, declension, degeneration, descent, decline, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening

Antonyms

comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback

Related Words

atrophy; exhaustion; drooping, flagging, limping; regression, relapse, setback

Near Antonyms

invigoration, strengthening; progress; rejuvenation, rejuvenescence

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.