1
as in to worsen
to become worse or of less value
the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deteriorate
In addition, a group of commercial property owners at Blackhawk Plaza filed a lawsuit in Contra Costa County Superior Court that paints a picture of deteriorating conditions at the once-vibrant shopping center.
—
George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
As Parade Park deteriorated, its dwindling number of residents complained of lack of maintenance and issues such as leaking roofs and black mold.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
By February, 2025, the situation had deteriorated to the point that two former top editors, Leonard Downie and Robert Kaiser, wrote to Bezos about Lewis.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
The environment is deteriorating for Republicans nationally, making individual races more important.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
George Avalos, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
As Parade Park deteriorated, its dwindling number of residents complained of lack of maintenance and issues such as leaking roofs and black mold.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
By February, 2025, the situation had deteriorated to the point that two former top editors, Leonard Downie and Robert Kaiser, wrote to Bezos about Lewis.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
The environment is deteriorating for Republicans nationally, making individual races more important.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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The hospital cleared him for incarceration with a Narcan prescription and instructions to return to the emergency room if symptoms worsened, the lawsuit alleged.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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While mandatory restrictions are not expected, Frost said the utility encourages everyday conservation and would coordinate closely with other utilities along the river if drought conditions worsen.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cold storage facilities have long struggled to automate inventory management due to frost, airflow, condensation, and glare, all of which degrade conventional sensors and scanning systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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To degrade what's left of Iran's nuclear program and missile-making capacity?—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But empires fall, and dynasties crumble.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Harkening back to the out-of-this-world aesthetics that won them broad acclaim for Poor Things, the commercial opens on a crumbling modernist edifice on a rocky outcrop in a stormy ocean.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Investors don’t want to inadvertently cheer on weakening job growth that could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth, hurting stock prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The National Weather Service says the ridge keeping California dry since last month is beginning to weaken.—
Monica Garske,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The driver and bicyclist declined to be transported to the hospital, according to officials.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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The sheriff declined to answer several questions, including one from a reporter who asked if there was a ransom demanded.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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What follows are some of their stories about the way gambling addictions prey on fandom, the convenience of online sportsbooks, and the masculine culture of competitiveness to corrupt the role of sports in their lives.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This time last year, the Davis Cup descended into farce and acrimony when Zizou Bergs of Belgium collided with Chile’s Cristian Garín at a changeover and set off a chain of events that led to Garín losing the match after being timed out.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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This weekend, Super Bowl crowds are descending on San Francisco for the first time in ten years—and the timing couldn’t be more apt.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In addition, the measure would have significant negative economic impact on the Northern Colorado region, potentially diminish cherished and time-honored campus traditions, and erode the public safety infrastructure the campus has put in place to support students and the broader community.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Facial hair prevents the mask from properly sealing to your face, diminishing its guarantee of protection.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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