1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of deteriorates
When those conditions are absent, performance deteriorates quickly.
—
Katerin Le Folcalvez, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Kyiv Post reported Thursday that Ukrainian military officials say Russian units left inside the city are cut off from reliable supply lines and are increasingly surrendering as their position deteriorates.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
As this cartilage deteriorates, bones rub against each other, leading to inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Unworthy of assistance, they are often neglected until their condition deteriorates and their homelessness becomes chronic.
—Christopher Calton, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
As Chandan drifts between lucidity and confusion, Shoaib tries to comfort him, but his condition deteriorates rapidly.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
As the situation in Mali deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and France among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.
—CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
The Backyard cast also features Katie MacNichol as Gladys’ daughter Ellen, Alexander Ameen as Ellen’s husband Howard, and William Huffaker as a young painter from Boston named Don Bowman whom Gladys seeks to help even as her mental state deteriorates.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
There is still plenty of long-term risk, depending on the rate at which Connor’s game deteriorates in his 30s.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Katerin Le Folcalvez, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Kyiv Post reported Thursday that Ukrainian military officials say Russian units left inside the city are cut off from reliable supply lines and are increasingly surrendering as their position deteriorates.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
As this cartilage deteriorates, bones rub against each other, leading to inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Unworthy of assistance, they are often neglected until their condition deteriorates and their homelessness becomes chronic.
—Christopher Calton, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
As Chandan drifts between lucidity and confusion, Shoaib tries to comfort him, but his condition deteriorates rapidly.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
As the situation in Mali deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and France among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.
—CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
The Backyard cast also features Katie MacNichol as Gladys’ daughter Ellen, Alexander Ameen as Ellen’s husband Howard, and William Huffaker as a young painter from Boston named Don Bowman whom Gladys seeks to help even as her mental state deteriorates.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
There is still plenty of long-term risk, depending on the rate at which Connor’s game deteriorates in his 30s.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorates
Verb
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That kind of improvement could help avoid a worst-case scenario the Fed has been desperate to avoid, one where expectations for high inflation trigger a vicious cycle of behavior that only worsens inflation.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Both Lago and Iglesias describe the move as taking control of the city’s future, protecting residents from the possibility of rising garbage and disposal fees as the county’s waste crisis worsens.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Since genetic material degrades over time, mapping the genome of animals like these that died thousands of years ago is incredibly difficult.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
14 Jan. 2026
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Venezuela may not be the sole source of cocaine, nor a major conduit for fentanyl, but dismantling a regime that actively protects and profits from transnational criminal networks unquestionably degrades those networks’ capacity to operate.—
Timothy M. Herbst,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The song was inspired by surviving a toxic relationship, and then finding a true-hearted love that crumbles emotional walls.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
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Academic success means little if a child crumbles under stress.—
Dr. Mona Amin,
CNBC,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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When CEOs treat financial advice as a substitute for judgment, leadership starts to erode, decisions slow down, and conviction weakens.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s focus on the Western Hemisphere — as a show of might that weakens China’s geostrategic influence, Nikkei wrote.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The other occurs when Marty descends a staircase in the opulent apartment that Kay shares with her rich husband, Milton (Kevin O’Leary).—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2026
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Netflix What happens when a supernatural danger descends on a blissful retirement community?—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Jay Jonah Atterbury, one of a handful of new characters on the fourth season of Industry, Kal Penn weaponizes and corrupts the stoner quirks viewers may recognize from his years playing Kumar Patel in the Harold & Kumar films.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
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Instead of a warning event, Expeditions imagines the historical fall that corrupts the Earth.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Using rolling peaks, which measure declines from the most recent market high rather than calendar periods, the S & P 500 has gone 185 days without a 10% drawdown, a stretch that, by itself, does not signal an imminent correction.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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Calls for repeal come with leaders of Balboa Park museums and other organizations saying that declines in park visits have ranged from 20% to more than 50% and that overall annual revenue could drop by $20 million to $30 million.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thecla humiliates him by ripping his robe and tearing the wreath off his head.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2026
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To show him who’s boss, Catherine turns around and buys Pac-North, humiliates him by closing it, and forces him back to Grey Sloan.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorates. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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