DETERIORATE Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

deteriorate

verb

di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt

Definition of deteriorate

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

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 At 34, frustrated by the lack of a decent salary and deteriorating living conditions, including declining healthcare and long lines for gasoline, De La Cruz began to think about leaving Cuba. — Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026 Last month, as Harald's health deteriorated, Astrid was among the senior royals who rushed to be with him at his hospital bedside. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026 Poor weather and deteriorating mine quality are contributing to production woes. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 By Season 2, however, the relationship between Hardy, Butterworth and Glasser deteriorated to the point that reports emerged claiming Hardy had been kicked off the show. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deteriorate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate

Verb

Attacks by Yemen’s Houthis against Saudi energy infrastructure drove oil prices towards the $100 a barrel mark, as fears grow that the largely dormant Middle East conflict is worsening.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
The worsening economic crisis led to weakness in the labor market, allowing employers to engage in wage repression and leading to further pressure on household incomes.

— Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of worsen

Verb

As industries increasingly operate equipment in extreme thermal and demanding environments, optical components must withstand conditions that can quickly degrade conventional materials.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
When a critical resource of a larger system is categorized as interchangeable, the company triggers savings logic that, in pursuit of lower prices, degrades quality.

— Mindaugas Čaplinskas, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

Transportation officials posted a video showing severe erosion jeopardizing the train tracks used by Metrolink in San Clemente, with strong ocean waves crashing on the tracks and sediment crumbling onto the rocks below.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

Dairy cows are producing less milk and birthing fewer or weakened calves.

— Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Though Hurricane Marie continues to weaken in the southern Pacific Ocean — and is expected to remain hundreds of miles off the Southern California coastline — the region can still expect to feel some effects from the storm over the next few days.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

In recent weeks, new cases and deaths have declined in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, but risen sharply in neighboring North Kivu and Haut-Uele, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at a weekly briefing.

— JEAN-YVES KAMALE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
Headen declined to claim responsibility for any of the posts.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

The title character and his fellow physicists spend much of their early years refusing to work for the Soviet military machine; building bombs would corrupt the purity and beauty of their science.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026
And by engaging with these powerful militaries, the group reinforced its self-image as a major regional player that was uniquely capable of liberating the Muslim world from corrupting American and Israeli influence.

— April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Verb

The few looks to descend the runway were in a muted neutral color palette featuring dove gray, soft browns and black leather tones.

— Morgan Evans, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767 aircraft, which departed from Boston, was descending and heading for New York City.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

Employees need clarity on how new skills connect to opportunities and confidence that AI will enhance, not diminish, their value in the organization.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
If the senator’s moralism has been unfettered by his stroke, with a shift toward right-brain moralistic processing, that does not diminish his sincere intent or its effect.

— Michael P.H. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminish

Browse Nearby Words

deterging

deteriorate

deteriorated

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“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deteriorate

verb

Example Sentences

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