atrophying

verb

present participle of atrophy
as in deteriorating
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

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 atrophying The Jersey boys had been sidelined from touring since 2022 after frontman Jon Bon Jovi was diagnosed with an atrophying vocal cord. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 July 2026 What is your advice for people who are trying to either develop or redevelop this atrophying muscle of curiosity and attention? — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026 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 Language skills at the department are also atrophying. — Byron Tau, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 Horvath blames educational technology (EdTech) for these atrophying skillsets, arguing that at the turn of the 21th century and through its first decade and a half, tech companies and advocates pushed a false narrative that the education system was broken, but computers could fix it. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophying
  1. deteriorating
  2. crumbling
  3. worsening
  4. declining
  5. descending
Verb
  • Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 July 2026
  • Allen said the house needed to be gutted, the inside was deteriorating and termites were eating at the doors.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • Rolling blackouts, water scarcity, crumbling hospitals, and shortages of food and medicine had become routine.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026
  • As well as Shusha, Azerbaijan had recaptured the entire lowlands, seven districts that had been crumbling undisturbed for three decades.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • After coming into power, the Malian military junta expelled French forces from the country in 2022, citing protection of national sovereignty and a worsening security crisis.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • The drop was driven by worsening infrastructure, softening housing and a high cost of living.
    — Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • Wine consumption as a whole is declining, according to the French Agriculture Ministry, with the government funding permanent vineyard removal in some cases.
    — Martina Di Licosa, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Some factors outside of districts’ control, such as the declining birth rate and competition with the private sector, could be contributing to this trend, according to local and state education leaders.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
Definition of declining
Verb
  • The sight of the American president descending the long stairs from Air Force One, smiling and waving along the way, became a symbol of American diplomacy.
    — Peter Kastor, Fortune, 27 July 2026
  • From the ground, the smooth, rotating ride looked interesting — suspended in twelve pairs of seats, passengers spin at a slight angle for about a minute before descending back to the surface.
    — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of descending

Browse Nearby Words

atrophy
atrophying
at sea
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Cite this Entry

“Atrophying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophying. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on atrophying

Nglish: Translation of atrophying for Spanish Speakers

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