deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt 
dē-
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make inferior in quality or value : impair
Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.
2
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
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
Recent studies, including one at Ball State University, have found a correlation between stock market downturns and deteriorating mental health among retirees, including insomnia and depression.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
The deteriorating conditions at Montlake stem from a new policy at the Commerce Department that says Secretary Howard Lutnick must personally approve all contracts over $100,000.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025
The heightened sense of uncertainty that forced small business confidence to plunge by 50%, labor market conditions to deteriorate, capital spending to stall, and GDP growth forecasts to plummet still remains.
—Time, 10 Apr. 2025
As Bergen-Belsen’s population skyrocketed from roughly 7,300 in July 1944 to 41,000 in March 1945, living conditions rapidly deteriorated.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
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Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
The deteriorating conditions at Montlake stem from a new policy at the Commerce Department that says Secretary Howard Lutnick must personally approve all contracts over $100,000.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025
The heightened sense of uncertainty that forced small business confidence to plunge by 50%, labor market conditions to deteriorate, capital spending to stall, and GDP growth forecasts to plummet still remains.
—Time, 10 Apr. 2025
As Bergen-Belsen’s population skyrocketed from roughly 7,300 in July 1944 to 41,000 in March 1945, living conditions rapidly deteriorated.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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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