deteriorate

verb

de·​te·​ri·​o·​rate di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt 

dē-

deteriorated; deteriorating

transitive verb

1

: to make worse or lower in quality or value : impair

Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.

2

: disintegrate

intransitive verb

: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : become gradually worse

allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate

His health deteriorated.

deteriorative

di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrā-tiv 

dē-

adjective

Synonyms of deteriorate

• worsen
• crumble
• decline
• descend
• diminish

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

Several specific incidents in the past few months have underlined Putin’s deteriorating position. — Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Police forcibly transferred a prominent activist to a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after his health deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike tied to India’s Cockroach Janata Party movement for education reform. — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Police forcibly transferred a prominent activist to a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after his health deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike tied to India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party movement for education reform. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

The difference does not appear to be speed, but recognizing erosion early enough to act before performance deteriorated. — Kerry Huang, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin deterioratus, past participle of deteriorare, from Latin deterior worse, from de- + -ter (suffix as in Latin uter which of two) + -ior (comparative suffix) — more at whether entry 2, -er

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for deteriorate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids 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

2

: disintegrate sense 1

deterioration

-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən

noun

deteriorative

-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt-iv 

adjective

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