as in deteriorating
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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Recent Examples of atrophying
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
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophying
Verb
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The two-time Oscar winner captures Garland in showstopper mode and, with spine curved and cigarette in hand, deftly communicates Garland's deteriorating state and the toll of her struggles with addiction.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Ollongren also warned of the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the war’s adverse effects on human rights in Iran and the broader region.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The blackout, the second such outage to affect western Cuba in three months, was blamed on a crumbling electric grid and a lack of fuel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Failing to correct problems can lead to crumbling home foundations, rotting wood, mold growth, and a proliferation of pests, including termites.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Over 115,000 Afghans and 3,000 Pakistanis have been displaced by the conflict, with the UN warning of worsening humanitarian crises.—
Munir Ahmed,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Iranian retaliatory attacks appear to be declining — ballistic missile strikes have fallen by 90% and drone attacks by 83%, according to US Central Command — potentially easing pressure on Gulf states that have faced Iranian strikes in recent days.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Instead of coming from declining direct-to-home satellite taxes, the money would come directly from state sales and use taxes.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Formula 1 returns to Australia this weekend, descending on the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne once again.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The drone footage of the skiers descending the dizzying glacier is quite the payoff.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atrophying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophying. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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