1
as in to worsen
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 to degrade
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 deteriorate
Investors will be anxious to see whether those deteriorating travel trends start to show up in the company’s financials.
—
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025
His health again began to deteriorate Feb. 14, when he was admitted to Gemelli hospital for what was described as a respiratory infection.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
As the Pacers’ lead increased to close the half, the Bucks’ will to work their offensive actions for great shots deteriorated.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
That’s because, with time, the materials and elastic bands used in the mask can deteriorate.
—Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025
His health again began to deteriorate Feb. 14, when he was admitted to Gemelli hospital for what was described as a respiratory infection.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
As the Pacers’ lead increased to close the half, the Bucks’ will to work their offensive actions for great shots deteriorated.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
That’s because, with time, the materials and elastic bands used in the mask can deteriorate.
—Lisa Wood Shapiro, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
-
However, a professor of political science at Bowling Green State University, which conducted the poll, said Democrats could yet retake the seat if the economy worsens, by regaining their standing as the party of the middle and working class.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
-
On the call, company officials said that while the McDonald's brand hadn't been affected by worsening perceptions of the U.S. by overseas consumers, its internal surveys had picked up a notable uptick in anti-American sentiment, particularly among diners in northern Europe and Canada.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Unlike many other archaeological sites in Sweden, where acidic soil degrades organic material, Strandvägen’s conditions have allowed organic material to survive for many years, as Gummesson tells the publication.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Yields usually fall when fear is dominating markets, but their surprising earlier rise stirred fears that Trump’s trade war was degrading the U.S. bond market’s status as one of the world’s safest places to keep cash.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The ongoing humanitarian crisis is worsened by widespread poverty, food insecurity, and a crumbling health care system, displacing over a million people from their homes in search of safety.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Here’s what students and educators across the state told us about the floods and leaks, overcrowding and inaccessibility, safety and outages, crumbling buildings and heating and cooling problems that impact every part of their day.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The pests set about sucking the sap from grape roots, slowly weakening them and opening wounds that invited disease.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Apr. 2025
-
As more state legislation is passed that weakens or eliminates longstanding fire and life safety codes, the need for young workers who are trained and passionate about reversing these trends is high.—
Jim Pauley,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Muir declined to speak to The Athletic about the evolution of Stanford athletics.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
More: Trump cannot use Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans, judge rules A federal appeals court on April 18 declined the administration's request to pause the judge's order.—
Andrew Chung and John Kruzel,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Although Harvard is an institution that has been corrupted by politics and would be well served to voluntarily adopt most of Trump’s demands on it, the university has a good shot at prevailing in a legal fight on the grounds that Trump failed to follow the necessary statutory process.—
The Editors,
National Review,
29 Apr. 2025
-
And the disease was a politics that was corrupted by the most powerful in our society: billionaires and oligarchs and corporate CEOs.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
That the posing and posturing for the public continued even as the Pentagon descended into turmoil over his rocky leadership seemed to say something, too.—
Jonathan Swan,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The hospital’s staff had braced for an onslaught of wounded after learning of the disaster, an army of ambulances having descended on the farm to the southwest of the city center where the plane’s carcass lay burning.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, a more constrained and domestically focused healthcare agenda is likely to diminish trust in federal health agencies, limit access to culturally competent care and produce a loss of global leadership in health innovation.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Whereas a decline in home values diminishes the equity investors might hold in their properties, which limits their ability to leverage assets for additional investments or refinancing opportunities.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share