DETERIORATES Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

deteriorates

verb

Definition of deteriorates next

present tense third-person singular of deteriorate

as in worsens

to become worse or of less value the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in degrades

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 deteriorates When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates. —

Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 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 turtle slows, more organisms attach, and the animal’s condition deteriorates. —

Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026 The movie, out now, follows Irene (Liu), her son Joe (Lawrence Shou), whose relationship deteriorates in the wake of his schizophrenia diagnosis. —

Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026 And if the economy deteriorates and the labor market materially weakens at the same time? —

Allie Canal, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026 As her vision deteriorates, Penny turns to psychoanalysis not in hopes of reversing her condition, but to confront years of denial and silence. —

Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026 Europe is tightening the net on Russian oil being shipped through its waters, squeezing Moscow’s ability to fund its war even as officials and business executives in Russia fear the window is narrowing to reach a peace deal before the economy deteriorates. —

Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026 Emily Demirdonder, director of operations and marketing at Proximity Plumbing, said the rubber backing deteriorates in hot water and breaks apart during the spin cycle, and those fragments can block drain pumps and drainage pipes—sometimes leading to flooding and machine failure. —

Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorates

Verb

Distress could spread to countries beyond the Gulf if dire conditions prompt residents to flee across borders and infrastructure damage worsens a global oil shock, analysts said.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
In this case, your sweat is wasted and actually worsens the situation by failing to cool your body and contributing to dehydration.

— Brad Stulberg, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026