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deteriorating 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in deteriorated

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2
as in declining

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deteriorating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deteriorate
1
as in crumbling
to become worse or of less value the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degrading
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

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 deteriorating
Adjective
The Federal Bureau of Prisons closed the site in 2024 due to deteriorating conditions and understaffing. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
Verb
With seven months left in his term, Macron’s approval ratings are near record lows, driven by anger over the rising cost of living and criticism of France’s growing debt and deficit and deteriorating public services. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 In schools, lead can come from deteriorating paint or from old plumbing, where water that sits unused in pipes can pick up lead. — Rebecca Smullin Dawson, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 The latest contingent is arriving as Haiti confronts a deteriorating security and humanitarian environment and struggles to organize its first general elections in more than a decade. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 The company’s financial position had been deteriorating for several years. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 The proposal comes as the Forest Service says deteriorating forest health and wildfire risk require more flexibility in managing the nation's forests. — Conor McGill, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 The story about Bartko’s deteriorating condition was then picked up by local, national and international media, including ABC News and International Business Times. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Claborn’s husband stayed in contact with 911, reporting his wife’s deteriorating condition. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Mohammad Eslami’s exclusion from the IAEA conference is another sign of rapidly deteriorating relations between Iran and the West. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorating
  1. deteriorated
  2. declining
  3. crumbling
  4. degrading
  5. decaying
  6. fading
  7. worsening
  8. weakening
Adjective
  • Clark said the supports are needed because equipment used in the investigation is too heavy and difficult to maneuver safely on the deteriorated floor.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • According to the officer, the decision to classify Sands' death as such was the result of the deteriorated condition of his body.
    — Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Definition of deteriorated
Adjective
  • While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
    — Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
  • In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
    — Fox News, Fox News, 15 May 2020
Definition of declining
Verb
  • The book describes trips to the archive, and then off into the ruins of the asylum, which were crumbling and also being turned into condominiums.
    — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Add the chicken, garlic powder, and chili powder and cook for 6 minutes, crumbling the meat with the back of a spoon or a potato masher (see note below), until browned.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • The study showed that adding synthetic, non-canonical amino acids called azatryptophans to plastic-degrading enzymes (PETases) can break the trade-off between catalytic activity and thermal stability.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Simply douse it with mildly alkaline water, and the polymer begins degrading, breaking down within minutes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of degrading
Adjective
  • Liberal critics, however, argued—also rightly—that the Soviet Union was a decaying, economically crippled giant by the time Reagan was inaugurated.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The district also could be in for other major changes in the coming years, including the opening of a few new schools to replace multiple decaying, underenrolled schools.
    — Scott Travis, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
Definition of decaying
Adjective
  • The classic budget-friendly design features a high-rise waistband that stays put, stretchy fabric that’s moisture-wicking and non-fading, and versatile colors like classic black and army green.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
  • In Aniara, the entire natural world is simply absent, a fading, unsustainable memory of something once alive.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
Definition of fading
Verb
  • In an era of worsening doctor shortages and an aging population, the ability to retain and re-energize good physicians may be the most underrated cost lever in all of healthcare.
    — Aric Coffman, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Looking to the future As polar ice disappears and sea levels continue to rise, concerns over the continuing and worsening repercussions of climate change continue to grow.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • Already, many import-dependent countries face shortages, fiscal pressure, and in some cases a difficult choice between cutting fuel subsidies and risking unrest or maintaining them and further weakening public finances.
    — RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Long-range seasonal guidance analyzed by Severe Weather Europe shows the stratospheric circulation potentially weakening during January and February.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakening

Browse Nearby Words

deteriorates
deteriorating
deterioration
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Cite this Entry

“Deteriorating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorating. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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