1
as in deteriorated
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in declining
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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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Recent Examples of deteriorating
Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Lake County has taken the first steps towards absorbing the responsibilities of the essentially defunct Del Mar Woods Sanitary District, a tiny government unit consisting of a subdivision with fewer than 90 lots and deteriorating sewer pipes.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
After four surgeries — three on my left and one on my right — my deteriorating knees were a mess.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The building had kept deteriorating over the course of time, with people continually breaking in, Olson said.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Ehrlich, who saw population control as vital to humanity’s viability amid a deteriorating environment, was proven wrong.
—Daniel Moss, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
The probable cause of the crash was the decision to take off in deteriorating weather conditions, with officials noting the plane was overweight and the density altitude was higher than Reid was accustomed to.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Washington also authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff and their families from Abuja, pointing to a deteriorating security environment.
—semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
But as a result of recent, tragic world events, the state of consumer aviation seems to be deteriorating at a rapid pace.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Kennedy Center leadership is conducting tours with congressional staff and donors to demonstrate that the building needs major renovation due to water damage, HVAC issues and deteriorating infrastructure.
—Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Lake County has taken the first steps towards absorbing the responsibilities of the essentially defunct Del Mar Woods Sanitary District, a tiny government unit consisting of a subdivision with fewer than 90 lots and deteriorating sewer pipes.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
After four surgeries — three on my left and one on my right — my deteriorating knees were a mess.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The building had kept deteriorating over the course of time, with people continually breaking in, Olson said.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Ehrlich, who saw population control as vital to humanity’s viability amid a deteriorating environment, was proven wrong.
—Daniel Moss, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
The probable cause of the crash was the decision to take off in deteriorating weather conditions, with officials noting the plane was overweight and the density altitude was higher than Reid was accustomed to.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Washington also authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff and their families from Abuja, pointing to a deteriorating security environment.
—semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
But as a result of recent, tragic world events, the state of consumer aviation seems to be deteriorating at a rapid pace.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorating
Adjective
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The rehab project at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption was sorely needed to repair deteriorated stone, metal and glass that adorns the limestone exterior.—
Dylan Lovan,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Crews will also remove the deteriorated deck concrete and install new slabs and joints.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
Verb
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Proponents of the extensions say the country remains wracked by gang violence and crumbling medical infrastructure.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
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The money is expected to now be invested in the island’s crumbling power grid, which was razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 but was already deteriorated given a lack of investment and maintenance.—
Dánica Coto,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The situation has caused a pile-on of speculation and allegations—including from some of its competitors—that the company is purposely degrading performance owing to a lack of compute capacity.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Israel appears to have taken the lead on assassinating even low-level figures linked to Iran’s nuclear program while systematically degrading the knowledge centers that could prove useful in the future.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Livaura Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that boosts cell turnover and collagen production, while fading wrinkles, fine lines, and reducing visible signs of aging like dullness, dark spots, and texture.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
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Thus, the wrecking ball came for the Purple Passion Pit and the rest of the complex, a monument to a fading but wonderfully hospitable era of Chicago entertainment and local entrepreneurship.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alice Ribes, emergency country director for the International Rescue Committee in Haiti, said millions continue to face a worsening crisis marked by escalating violence, hunger and starvation, forced displacement of people from their homes and outbreaks of disease.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
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Flooding is worsening in parts of Michigan on Friday, with rivers still rising in some parts and receding in others.—
Terrance Friday,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The impact of those exits could turn out to be the most lasting, potentially weakening the Justice Department for many years to come, several former longterm DOJ lawyers who worked across areas told USA TODAY.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
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Moisture can lead to weakening the tree or shrub's protective layer and create an environment for fungal growth, rot, or disease, says Putnam.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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At last official count last year, the population in this hodgepodge of industrial plants, cow fields and ramshackle trailers was 16.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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The home here is a ramshackle London town house where a famed painter, Julian Sklar (Ian McKellen), is spending his final years in a haze of creative stagnation and lingering renown.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorating. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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