atrophies

verb

present tense third-person singular of atrophy
as in deteriorates
to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

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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 atrophies Otherwise the ability to work independently atrophies. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Marcus Pettersson Pettersson’s form, as is typical for most non-play driving defensive defencemen as the health of a wider two-way environment atrophies, has looked poor for long stretches of this season. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026 But if American political life continues to become coarser and more corrupt, and its hard power is repeatedly misused while its soft power atrophies, keeping those two things separate is going to be a lot more difficult. — Stephen M. Walt, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2025 The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke. — New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophies
  1. deteriorates
  2. crumbles
  3. worsens
  4. descends
  5. declines
Verb
  • When incentives are separated from consequences, judgement often deteriorates and execution stalls.
    — Susana Cabrera, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Presidents fall, elections are held, and international interventions return — yet insecurity deepens and governance deteriorates.
    — José Singer, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026
Definition of deteriorates
Verb
  • That is the moment that everything crumbles for Rachel.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
  • Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of crumbles
Verb
  • This challenge worsens as AI adoption expands across the enterprise.
    — Tim Beerman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Repeatedly tilling clay worsens soil compaction, so only do this the first year.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 July 2026
Definition of worsens
Verb
  • As Pakistan descends into crisis, Zakir recognizes disturbing similarities between 1947 and 1971—crowds assembling, slogans spreading, cities burning, and familiar places becoming strange.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
  • Yet, as the WNBA descends upon Chicago for All-Star weekend, Engelbert is reaching an inflection point in her tenure.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of descends
Verb
  • Investors need to put into perspective how stock market declines, free cash flow patterns and capex fit together, both conceptually and historically.
    — Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Cole declines Gwayne Hightower’s offer to serve his house and move to Oldtown.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of declines

Browse Nearby Words

atrophied
atrophies
atrophy
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Cite this Entry

“Atrophies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophies. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on atrophies

Nglish: Translation of atrophies for Spanish Speakers

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