ATROPHY Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

atrophy 1 of 2

verb

Definition of atrophy

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

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atrophy

2 of 2

noun

as in degeneration

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of atrophy

Verb

And to society, the implications of such blatant cronyism could be sweeping, from atrophying regulation and loss of accountability to further concentration of power and money among the wealthiest people on Earth. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 June 2026 Spending more than six months in space comes with other potential health risks, including the weakening and loss of bone and atrophying muscles. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 26 May 2026

Noun

What skills, painstakingly developed over decades, could quietly begin to atrophy? — Maria Colacurcio, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 Muscle mass and strength in general are a major concern on space missions, since astronauts end up seeing atrophy as a result of not needing to push, pull or lift anything in zero gravity. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atrophy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy

Verb

An individual company can maintain excellent controls and favorable claims experience while still facing higher pricing because the market has deteriorated around it.

— Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
And that’s when the Twins began to sink, though the ship deteriorated far more over these past three weeks than at first.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Noun

Researchers are now conducting clinical trials to see whether the procedure can reverse degeneration in the retina or optic nerve.

— Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
Estimates suggest that around 20% of US adults show disc degeneration by age 65.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of degeneration

Verb

His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, declined to comment after the hearing.

— TIM SULLIVAN, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
There are also discussions about an adjacent White House meeting with AI CEOs next week, which House Majority Leader Mike Johnson referenced, but a representative for the speaker declined to provide further details.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Noun

But the Treasury market’s rapid deterioration is now alarming those who previously downplayed the risks.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Banks, by comparison, may feel the pressure later, if prolonged high borrowing costs lead to deterioration among property or corporate borrowers, according to Leung.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of deterioration

Verb

Transportation officials posted a video showing severe erosion jeopardizing the train tracks used by Metrolink in San Clemente, with strong ocean waves crashing on the tracks and sediment crumbling onto the rocks below.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of crumble

Noun

Turning from Howard Street, drivers could easily think Hamilton is just a squalid dead-end or a route to more decay.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
However, since a Higgs boson does not have a spin of its own, the two Z bosons formed during its decay cannot have any odd combinations of spins.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of decay

Verb

Because of the pain from tooth damage, the may have upped their betel nut consumption, ultimately worsening the addiction.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026
Holzmann said the worsening economic conditions are pushing the Kast administration to race against the clock to translate medium- and long-term initiatives into concrete actions that have a direct impact on citizens’ pockets.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of worsen

Noun

The first sign that El Niño is developing is a weakening, or even reversal, of the tropical Pacific trade winds.

— Steven Paton, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to around 65 mph with higher gusts, and gradual weakening is forecast during the next few days, according to the hurricane center.

— Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of weakening

Browse Nearby Words

atrophies

atrophy

atrophying

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“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of atrophy

verb

noun

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