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
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
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
As the situation deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Exposure to such content also deteriorates her audience’s ability to form beliefs on the basis of the evidence and primes them for skepticism toward consequential matters like vaccines and medicine.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 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
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Our hygiene deteriorates.
—Eli Sharabi, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Eventually, due to lack of movement, muscle tissue deteriorates, and parts of your body stop functioning permanently.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Trust erodes, culture deteriorates, and the long-term health of the organization is put at risk.
—Christopher Kaufman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
As the situation deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Exposure to such content also deteriorates her audience’s ability to form beliefs on the basis of the evidence and primes them for skepticism toward consequential matters like vaccines and medicine.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 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
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Our hygiene deteriorates.
—Eli Sharabi, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Eventually, due to lack of movement, muscle tissue deteriorates, and parts of your body stop functioning permanently.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Trust erodes, culture deteriorates, and the long-term health of the organization is put at risk.
—Christopher Kaufman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorates
Verb
-
Sam slips back into her addiction and as her alcoholism worsens, so do the visions and apparitions that seem to be haunting the forest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
As climate change worsens, more locations are going to become too hot for data centers.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But that study measured the shoes after 280 miles, leaving it unclear how much the foam degrades in 50 or 100 miles.—
Jonathan Beverly,
Outside,
26 Dec. 2025
-
As the biofilm degrades, sludge settles in a secondary clarifier.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Academic success means little if a child crumbles under stress.—
Dr. Mona Amin,
CNBC,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Toby’s display, overall, looks a lot nicer, but when Paul goes to take a slice of his cake from the chocolate case, the whole thing crumbles to a mess.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Carol is casually chatting with her manager and romantic partner, Helen (Miriam Shor), when the pathogen descends on everyone, creating a horrific scene of silent, seizing bodies.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Regardless, this film also boasts a oner for the ages, as a raincoat mafia descends upon a rave and a pair of bloodthirsty lovers.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of a warning event, Expeditions imagines the historical fall that corrupts the Earth.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
21 Dec. 2025
-
Rather than simply attacking YoungBoy, Choppa frames himself as a corrective force, casting YoungBoy as someone who corrupts impressionable listeners.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Independent energy analyst Rachel Ziemba, who agrees major oil companies may hesitate, also notes that declines in the price of crude – the raw material for consumer products like gasoline – are often not fully passed on to consumers.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
-
As Gustav aims to work his way back into their lives, Nora retreats into isolation as her mental health increasingly declines.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
There’s always a moment in which somebody humiliates the villain and now all the love in him is gone.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorates. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share