deteriorating 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in deteriorated

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in declining

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Dissimilar Words

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
By the time the kids make it to the Gullet, the situation is deteriorating. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Health care on the island, which was already noticeably deteriorating before the current energy crisis, has now completely collapsed. — Sarah Moreno july 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 The step, which still needs approval in Parliament, reflects deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey. — ABC News, 28 June 2026 That enables Cadence’s system, which is supervised by physicians, to alert a clinician when a patient is deteriorating before a stroke or heart attack, for example. — Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 The proposal still requires parliamentary approval and comes amid deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey. — Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 And his political standing is now suddenly deteriorating to the point where Congress is maybe losing some of its fear, and there may be a different Congress after November. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 Intensifying wildfires across eastern Utah and western Colorado are sending thick smoke into portions of the state, creating hazy skies and deteriorating air quality for many mountain and western Colorado communities. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 28 June 2026 In 1922, Kenmore House was deteriorating, and the Kenmore Association and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) needed $30,000 for its repairs and restoration. — Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorating
  1. deteriorated
  2. declining
  3. crumbling
  4. degrading
  5. decaying
  6. fading
  7. worsening
  8. weakening
Adjective
  • 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
  • Crews will spend several days rebuilding and paving each section before moving on to the next, according to a press release, and the project will remove deteriorated pavement before the application of new asphalt.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 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
  • An islandwide blackout plunged Cuba’s nearly 10 million residents into darkness Monday, exposing a crumbling power grid and dwindling fuel reserves as officials raced to restore electricity.
    — Milexsy Durán, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Of course, Microsoft’s browser dominance was crumbling by the time the EU managed to get that implemented.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • Overtourism can be highly problematic for cities, threatening to drive housing crises via short-term rentals, straining infrastructure to the breaking point and degrading local culture.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The material can power reactions such as oxidizing organic molecules, potentially degrading pollutants, sterilizing surfaces, or enabling photocatalytic chemistry to continue later in the dark.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of degrading
Adjective
  • 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
  • Accelerating these efforts is crucial to protect children from worsening climate impacts.
    — Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Over several days, the boy was taken to clinics and emergency rooms as doctors searched for the cause of his worsening symptoms, the report said.
    — Sophie Ziedalski, NBC news, 2 July 2026
Definition of worsening
Verb
  • Goldman Sachs predicts a sustained dollar weakening in 2026, driven by fiscal concerns and shifting global asset demand, marking a structural shift rather than a cyclical dip.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining its military logistics and supply lines and weakening its ability to mount assaults along the front.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of weakening

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Cite this Entry

“Deteriorating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorating. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of deteriorating for Spanish Speakers

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