Synonyms of atrophies

atrophies

verb

present tense third-person singular of atrophy

as in deteriorates

to become worse or of less value

in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorates
• crumbles
• worsens
• descends
• declines
• diminishes
• rots
• degenerates
• devolves
• decays
• regresses
• weakens
• ebbs
• sinks
• retrogrades
• disintegrates
• wanes
• sags
• goes to seed
• recedes
• decomposes
• dwindles
• degrades
• downsizes
• goes to pot
• falls
• putrefies
• corrupts
• debilitates
• reduces
• sours
• abates
• slips
• undermines
• languishes
• droops
• lessens
• fails
• dilapidates
• wilts
• lags
• molders
• de-escalates
• spoils
• lowers
• wastes (away)
• breaks down
• runs down
• flags

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improves
• ameliorates
• enhances
• intensifies
• enriches
• strengthens
• develops
• progresses
• heightens
• upgrades
• fortifies
• meliorates
• advances
• betters
• proceeds
• marches

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of atrophies

Otherwise the ability to work independently atrophies. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

Marcus Pettersson Pettersson’s form, as is typical for most non-play driving defensive defencemen as the health of a wider two-way environment atrophies, has looked poor for long stretches of this season. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026

But if American political life continues to become coarser and more corrupt, and its hard power is repeatedly misused while its soft power atrophies, keeping those two things separate is going to be a lot more difficult. — Stephen M. Walt, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2025

The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke. — New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025