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
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Recent Examples of deteriorate
But hospital staff refused to let the teen's condition deteriorate.
—
Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Waymo also says its system can detect when conditions deteriorate beyond safe operating thresholds.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Without access to care or medication, Greene’s mental health deteriorated.
—Davi Jacobs, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026
Her family has said that her health had been deteriorating in prison, in part because she was heavily beaten during her arrest.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Waymo also says its system can detect when conditions deteriorate beyond safe operating thresholds.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Without access to care or medication, Greene’s mental health deteriorated.
—Davi Jacobs, Baltimore Sun, 13 May 2026
Her family has said that her health had been deteriorating in prison, in part because she was heavily beaten during her arrest.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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Airfares were already rising when Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, and the loss of the discount carrier is expected to worsen the trend for travelers.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
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Foreign investors continue to be bearish on India due to weak earnings and the worsening economic impact from the rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
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More than three decades of Arctic exposure have severely degraded many structures.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 May 2026
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High heat causes coatings to degrade faster and shortens the lifespan of the pan dramatically.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Verb
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A lot of the old ways and structures the industry was built around have shifted or crumbled.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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The mounting costs of Putin’s war on Ukraine have contributed to the nation’s shift, as Russians grapple with higher inflation, more taxes, crumbling infrastructure, tighter censorship, and myriad new restrictions.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The weakened 65-year-old cartel will remain with its five original members—Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela, as well as the Saudis and Kuwaitis—and six oil-producing African nations.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
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This can weaken and compromise your home’s structural integrity, which could lead to safety hazards and expensive repairs.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
Verb
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McGrail says Janet declined and put an end to the evening.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Schoenbrun’s third feature, Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma stars Einbinder as an enthusiastic young director who is tasked with resurrecting the Camp Miasma slasher franchise after years of subpar sequels and declining fandom.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Verb
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At first, the gorgeous ripe berries are evidence of how perfect our planet can be, corrupted only by the selfish impulses of a human race that’s largely uninterested in caring for anything on it when there isn’t a profit to be made.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
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An independent redistricting commission — transparent, balanced and insulated from the very political pressures that have corrupted this process.—
Daryl Campbell,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The world of The White Lotus Season 4 also descended on Tetou, making the two-hour pilgrimage from their set in Saint-Tropez to Cannes on their only day off just in time for dinner.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 May 2026
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Eventually, several crew members descended downward from the helicopter on ropes, retrieved the hiker and hoisted him back up.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Page cited a combination of federal funding cuts, skyrocketing health care costs, diminishing enrollment and more behind the budget constraints, while local teachers cited local investment issues as well.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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