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
Technology has helped overcome barriers to using those organs — ways to keep them from deteriorating as the heartbeat winds down — spurring this type of donation at the same time the nation is hunting ways to overcome a dire shortage.
—
ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The administration would like the public to believe these buildings are deteriorating because greedy landlords refuse to reinvest rent revenue.
—Kenny Burgos, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
The conversation highlights just how much the relationship between the AI startup and the US government had already deteriorated before culminating in an ultimatum on Tuesday.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Pieces that are clean, well cared for, without any holes or damage, and closest to their original condition tend to have greater resale potential than those that have deteriorated over time.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The administration would like the public to believe these buildings are deteriorating because greedy landlords refuse to reinvest rent revenue.
—Kenny Burgos, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
The conversation highlights just how much the relationship between the AI startup and the US government had already deteriorated before culminating in an ultimatum on Tuesday.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Pieces that are clean, well cared for, without any holes or damage, and closest to their original condition tend to have greater resale potential than those that have deteriorated over time.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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Crowley’s lawsuit claims Bass and city leaders’ decisions worsened the LAFD’s response to the fire, saying the city historically failed to properly fund the LAFD, leaving the agency under-manned and backlogged in the maintenance of vehicles and other equipment.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Despite being warned of the risk of worsening symptoms or death, Bien-Aime signed her out of the hospital against medical advice on July 23, 2022, detectives say.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Vinegar can damage some finishes and the protective coating on some wood cabinets may have degraded over time.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
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All of these steps degrade or destroy the aromatic compounds that made the flower compelling in the first place.—
Sara Payan,
Rolling Stone,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This recipe combines the deep green veg with cannellini beans and crumbled Italian sausage for a quickie one-dish meal.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
23 Feb. 2026
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Her private life, too, was beginning to crumble.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While speculation has focused on the possibility of two Republicans advancing, the more likely scenario is that only one GOP candidate reaches November — and does so weakened.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Feb. 2026
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The effect occurs because friction between grains drops sharply under fast loads, weakening the internal force networks that normally support the material.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As mentioned earlier, Bragg’s office declined to pursue charges of assaulting an officer during an arraignment on Thursday evening.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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Shah Alam was offered the opportunity to make a phone call, but declined, and asked to be taken to the location where he was eventually dropped off, the official said.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over time, these invisible strikes can corrupt data, damage components, and shorten a spacecraft’s life.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
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In this way at least, the mayor follows in the path of Socrates by corrupting the young.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There were nearly 800 players who descended on Bishop Moore Catholic High School on Saturday, the largest Under Armour Combine in the country, all looking for invites to Sunday’s Camp Series invitation-only event.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
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The historically Black community, made up primarily of working-class families, didn’t receive evacuation alerts until the fire had already descended on their neighborhoods.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Work remained consistent even if the projects diminished in prestige and quality.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Left unaddressed, a voter in Maryland who prefers a House majority willing to check the power of the White House will have their vote diminished by what Republicans are doing elsewhere in the country.—
Eric H. Holder Jr,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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