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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in degeneration
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of atrophy
New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
The 2022 invasion reinvigorated a domestic defense industry that had atrophied beyond recognition since Soviet times.
—Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
These lobes atrophy, and the shrinking of these areas can cause speech issues, emotional problems and changes in personality.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrophy
Verb
The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke.
—New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
The 2022 invasion reinvigorated a domestic defense industry that had atrophied beyond recognition since Soviet times.
—Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The specific area that cabbies bulk up is often the first to atrophy as Alzheimer’s strikes.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
These lobes atrophy, and the shrinking of these areas can cause speech issues, emotional problems and changes in personality.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for atrophy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophy
Verb
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If conditions continue to deteriorate, Polis could declare a drought emergency and seek federal disaster assistance.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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In the crashes reviewed, the system did not detect common roadway conditions that impaired camera visibility or provide alerts when camera performance had deteriorated until immediately before the crash occurred.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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James turned forty-one at the end of that month, an age at which many people start to notice the normal degeneration of their tendons and joints.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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Researchers at Cedars-Sinai found traces of Chlamydia pneumoniae – a bacterium that's best known for causing respiratory infections – in the eye's retinal tissue, and higher levels of this pathogen correlated with advanced degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease patients.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One person sustained minor injuries but declined hospitalization.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Over the next 25 years, East Asia, Europe, and Russia will all experience significant population declines.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All the hallmarks of an economic collapse are there, including the gradual shutdown and deterioration of public services, shortages of basic goods, and major rises in the cost of living.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
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Beyond next week’s meeting, policymakers will need to be cognizant of balancing new inflation risks from the war in Iran with any signs of deterioration in the labor market.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Flores said the community continues to struggle with a range of problems, including poor air quality, high poverty rates, weak worker protections and crumbling infrastructure.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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However, as the show begins, the family’s pristine facade is just on the verge of crumbling.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Furthermore, the robot avoids the inevitable performance decay seen in technologies such as solar panels or nuclear generators, ensuring a longer operational lifespan in the field.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Mar. 2026
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Tooth decay can begin very early in a child’s life.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Burning more coal risks worsening smog in major cities, slowing the transition to renewable energy and increasing the region's planet-warming emissions.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
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The first of three ships carrying food, medical supplies, solar panels, and other humanitarian aid arrived in Cuba on Tuesday, three days behind schedule, as the island grapples with a worsening economic and energy crisis.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Another displacement or weakening of the polar vortex is underway, which can allow bursts of Arctic air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast at times, according to AccuWeather lead long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
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To be sure, Barclays acknowledged Nike’s turnaround still faces risks around tariffs, competition and a potential weakening in consumer spending tied to the Middle East conflict.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophy. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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