deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt 
dē-
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make inferior in quality or value : impair
Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.
2
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate
his health deteriorated
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 on the Web
But the age and condition of the fleet could deteriorate further, even with an infusion of cash to buy new equipment, because the wait times are so long.
—
Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
Fiscal Policy Without exception, the fiscal position of large countries, including the United States, as measured by government debt relative to GDP, deteriorated due to the impact of spending during the pandemic.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The relationship between O'Keefe and Read had been deteriorating in the weeks before his death, his niece, a juvenile, testified earlier.
—Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Though the cause of death has not been revealed, his health had deteriorated in recent years.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
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Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
Fiscal Policy Without exception, the fiscal position of large countries, including the United States, as measured by government debt relative to GDP, deteriorated due to the impact of spending during the pandemic.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The relationship between O'Keefe and Read had been deteriorating in the weeks before his death, his niece, a juvenile, testified earlier.
—Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Though the cause of death has not been revealed, his health had deteriorated in recent years.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make or become worse or of less value : degenerate
deterioration
noun
-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən
Medical Definition
deteriorate
intransitive verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
her health deteriorated
deteriorating vision
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