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
By contrast, folks with traditional dementia can deteriorate quite quickly.
—
Brittany Risher, SELF, 11 Apr. 2025
After more than a century at the bottom of the North Atlantic, the Titanic has deteriorated.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Garland’s script tests their camaraderie as relations rapidly deteriorate in the face of bright, glowing doom.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Officials fear patient care will deteriorate Legendary ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band with CT ties gets its due in documentary airing on public TV
New pharmacy opens in CT.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Brittany Risher, SELF, 11 Apr. 2025
After more than a century at the bottom of the North Atlantic, the Titanic has deteriorated.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Garland’s script tests their camaraderie as relations rapidly deteriorate in the face of bright, glowing doom.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Officials fear patient care will deteriorate Legendary ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band with CT ties gets its due in documentary airing on public TV
New pharmacy opens in CT.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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The administration’s threat of tariffs on pharmaceuticals risks political backlash, worsening drug shortages and future battles over who pays.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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Some evidence suggests that creatine may worsen mania symptoms in people with bipolar disorder.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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The pitching staff began to crumble beneath a lack of reliable depth.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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Both gentlemen were trying to win their first Green Jacket. DeChambeau crumbled while McIlroy had a rollercoaster kind of day, prevailing to win The Masters and complete the career grand slam.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.—
Julia Angwin,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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County officials declined to comment on the civil lawsuit.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The hospital declined to say whether Ikner was one of their patients.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Stuart Miller, Boynton Beach Seven memorable words Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2025
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The show followed an ensemble of one-percenters at the titular resort in Hawaii, observing how their privilege blinds them to reality and corrupts everyone around them, leading to conflicts, cruelty, and, eventually, violence.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Air enters through these grilles, descends vertically some 30 feet (10 meters) and then passes horizontally over four massive swimming pool size water baths, each with a maximum depth of 6.5 feet (two meters).—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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In an era when political discourse so often descends into outrage and division — on cable news, in Congress, even in school board races — the quiet decency shown in Skokie feels all the more remarkable.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The previous six champions were all diminished the following season by either injuries or significant roster changes.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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But the same things that prevent parents from maintaining employment or housing — especially substance abuse and mental illness — often inhibit them from engaging in services, while also diminishing their ability to protect and care for their children.—
Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Naomi Schaefer Riley,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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