deteriorate

verb

di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce deteriorate (audio)
Definition of deterioratenext
1
as in to worsen
to become worse or of less value the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 deteriorate His tenure ended messily, with reports of deteriorating team relations and a dugout incident. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The junta in Niger promised to stabilize the country but instead security has deteriorated. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 His wife remained deeply unhappy, and their connection deteriorated. — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026 The Hugo Chavez and Maduro regimes allowed the country’s oil infrastructure to deteriorate beyond repair. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
  1. worsen
  2. degrade
  3. crumble
  4. weaken
  5. decline
  6. corrupt
  7. descend
  8. diminish
Verb
  • Conflict between the government and rebel groups in the eastern region, attacks on health workers and an intense population movement also have worsened the outbreak.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Venezuela’s oil output began to stagnate, a situation which worsened further after the coup attempt of April 2002.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsen
Verb
  • Moreover, certified testing by the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) verified the materials won’t degrade, rating them for over 10 years of continuous use.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Use that gap to isolate the employee's side, then deliberately degrade whatever residual customer voice remains.
    — Vivek Thomas, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of degrade
Verb
  • The tram no longer goes to this part of town, and the street itself is slowly gone, the asphalt crumbling into dust.
    — Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In a dystopian world of desperation and war, small glimmers of hope keep society from crumbling completely.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumble
Verb
  • Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Castro was released from a Texas jail last week after a judge declined to order his return to Minnesota.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As a result of these shifts, in the last year, while the Nifty 50 has declined by more than 2%, the Nifty Midcap 150 index is up 10%, as per LSEG data.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Instead, in trying to explain what made both Murdoch and Lamb tick in those early days, Boyle and Graham show us just how intoxicating and corrupting this kind of success can be.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • There, Prue must go on a journey to save her younger brother Mac from crows led by a woman named Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), who captures Curtis and attempts to corrupt him for her own mysterious purposes.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of corrupt
Verb
  • There is a tendency for gloom to descend when thinking about Europe’s economic and business prospects.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The plane then turned right again, descended and then flew up to about 27,025 feet above sea level.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of descend
Verb
  • At least one expert said that some workers could have access to oxygen, but others warned that the chances of finding survivors were diminishing.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Violence diminishes its victims, forcing everyone to play a single thankless role.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminish

Browse Nearby Words

deterging
deteriorate
deteriorated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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