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 In the four months before killing her three children and attempting to kill herself, Lindsay Clancy desperately sought help for her deteriorating mental condition. — Tara Bannow, STAT, 4 Sep. 2026 The defense had argued that the deaths occurred after months of worsening psychiatric symptoms and treatment and that Clancy's mental condition had deteriorated to the point she could not legally be held criminally responsible. — Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Its lengthy deployment drew concerns last month about deteriorating mental health among the crew as well as shortages of key food supplies aboard. — Jintamas Saksornchai, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026 Higher yields with larger debt burdens makes paying off the debt more difficult and compounds the deteriorating fiscal situation. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deteriorate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate

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

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

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

Foreign central banks and other institutions looking for a safe place to park their capital have diminished roles in the Treasury market and have increasingly turned to alternative havens like gold.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
These stabs at earnestness do nothing to diminish the feeling of the concert film being little more than a cash grab.

— Elena Lazic, Variety, 5 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 8 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deteriorate

verb

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