deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt 
dē-
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make worse or lower in quality or value : impair
Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.
2
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : become gradually worse
allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate
His health deteriorated.
Examples of deteriorate in a Sentence
efforts to save a deteriorating rain forest
Exposure to rain and sun will gradually deteriorate the paint.
Recent Examples on the Web
People can experience stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours after ingesting a toxic mushroom and the situation can quickly deteriorate after that, experts say.
—
Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Harald’s physical health has deteriorated in recent years, requiring Haakon to act as regent on occasion.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
The relationship deteriorated further after Horvath and her colleagues voted to shift hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a city-county partnership, and into a new county agency on homelessness.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
At a minimum, Advantage suggested the deteriorating beams be replaced.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
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Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Harald’s physical health has deteriorated in recent years, requiring Haakon to act as regent on occasion.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
The relationship deteriorated further after Horvath and her colleagues voted to shift hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a city-county partnership, and into a new county agency on homelessness.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
At a minimum, Advantage suggested the deteriorating beams be replaced.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make or become worse or of less value : degenerate
deterioration
noun
-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən
Medical Definition
deteriorate
intransitive verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
her health deteriorated
deteriorating vision
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