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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deteriorate
But the relationship deteriorated and Ovitz only lasted about 14 months before exiting with quite a large payout for such a short tenure, prompting a nasty and high profile shareholder lawsuit against Eisner and the board in Delaware Chancery Court to claw back the package.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Some plants are easier, while others can deteriorate overnight, so finding the right plant is paramount.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
The dispute comes as Colombia prepares for presidential elections in May, and relations deteriorate between Colombia and Ecuador, two neighboring nations that were once close commercial and security partners.
—Manuel Rueda, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
Some plants are easier, while others can deteriorate overnight, so finding the right plant is paramount.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
The dispute comes as Colombia prepares for presidential elections in May, and relations deteriorate between Colombia and Ecuador, two neighboring nations that were once close commercial and security partners.
—Manuel Rueda, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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If conditions worsen, the state will move into phase three.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Carolina Rodriguez, director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program in New York, said the backlog for relief programs could worsen as borrowers in the now-defunct Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan submit applications to access a new repayment plan.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Exposure to moisture and carbon dioxide can trigger side reactions that degrade the cathode, blocking ion movement and reducing performance.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Mar. 2026
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Phase 1 degrades military power and holds hostage the regime’s economic lifelines.—
Richard Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Inspired by the helter-skelter brickwork of Chiang Mai's crumbling temples, their façades feature masonry laid in intricate motifs and wooden lattices that create beautiful shadowy patterns when the sun hits.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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The lack of oil has exacerbated the existing problems with Cuba’s crumbling electrical grid and led to nearly constant blackouts all over the island.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When presidents sidestep formal addresses and Congress declines to insist upon them, the deliberative architecture of the republic weakens.—
Kenneth Zagacki,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
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High supply and weakening renter demand have apartment landlords living in an ever-more competitive space.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One person sustained minor injuries but declined hospitalization.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Over the next 25 years, East Asia, Europe, and Russia will all experience significant population declines.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In his Phaedrus, Plato attacked reading as corrupting true philosophical dialectic.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Mar. 2026
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Yet, there’s a strong counter-argument that power doesn’t corrupt a person, but merely lays bare their ethics or lack thereof.—
Charles Lewis III,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our subsequent Nora movie nights had to be spaced apart because a pall descended and lingered for days after them.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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As the summer air thickens with diffused sunlight and harsh humidity, a psychological fog descends on our young protagonist.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Waddle’s production diminished the past three years because of myriad factors, including Tagovailoa’s regression, some drops by Waddle and Hill commanding more targets before his September injury last year.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
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Israel’s indie film industry is diminished, squeezed between endless conflict, global boycotts over Gaza and defunding threats from the country’s right-wing government, and hopes are slim for a presence in Cannes this year.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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