deterioration

noun

de·​te·​ri·​o·​ra·​tion di-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən 

dē-

: the action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, functioning, or condition : the state of having deteriorated

rust deterioration

the deterioration of academic standards

Synonyms

• weakening
• decay
• decline
• decaying

Choose the Right Synonym for deterioration

deterioration, degeneration, decadence, decline mean the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality.

deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness.

the deterioration of the house through neglect

degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

the degeneration of their youthful idealism into cynicism

decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy.

cited love of luxury as a sign of cultural decadence

decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.

the meteoric decline of his career after the scandal

Examples of deterioration in a Sentence

the gradual deterioration of the weather

a deterioration of academic standards

Recent Examples on the Web

Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years. —Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

Indeed, September’s deterioration doesn’t signal the first time the indicator has entered recession territory—it’s been there since February 2025—but marks a further step away from a healthy outlook over a prolonged period of time. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

Concerns online have stirred conversations about whether the deterioration of oral health is a potential side effect of semaglutides. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025

Presbyopia is the gradual deterioration of your eyes' ability to focus on close objects. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see deteriorate

First Known Use

circa 1658, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deterioration

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Medical Definition

deterioration

noun

de·​te·​ri·​o·​ra·​tion di-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən 

: the action or process of deteriorating : the state of having deteriorated

personality deterioration

neurological deterioration