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
Despite being positive on Reinsurance Group of America for a bit, JPMorgan finally sees the right moment for investors to jump in as the sector faces a deteriorating economic backdrop.
—
Alex Harring, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
However, their communication has since deteriorated.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Further south in Zaporizhzhia, the situation for the Ukrainians is deteriorating, according to the spokesman for the military there, Vladyslav Voloshyn.
—Tim Lister and Maria Kostenko, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Attitudes toward the economy have deteriorated for the last several months in a shift primarily driven by inflation and tariff concerns that have also jolted the stock market and pointed to slowing economic growth.
—Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Alex Harring, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
However, their communication has since deteriorated.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Further south in Zaporizhzhia, the situation for the Ukrainians is deteriorating, according to the spokesman for the military there, Vladyslav Voloshyn.
—Tim Lister and Maria Kostenko, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Attitudes toward the economy have deteriorated for the last several months in a shift primarily driven by inflation and tariff concerns that have also jolted the stock market and pointed to slowing economic growth.
—Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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Eventually, those with ALS often experience trouble talking, walking, and swallowing, and the symptoms worsen over time.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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Rolling back rules will take time, but America’s air quality could worsen in the interim.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Thimerosal degrades into ethylmercury, which was judged not to be a danger at the level that would come from a vaccine.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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The quality degrades a bit after the sun goes down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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When workers suspect the game is rigged in favor of the boss's nephew or the CEO's daughter, the belief that hard work leads to recognition—the backbone of productive workplaces—begins to crumble.—
Jonathan H. Westover,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Wild, who are crumbling at the seams, fell to 1-4-2 in their past seven thanks to an 0-1-2 road trip.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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More broadly, consumer sentiment has declined and retail sales growth has weakened, reflecting the uncertainty of customers over where the economy is headed.—
Harry Holzer,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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One way that could happen would be for foreign countries to weaken their currency to make the same product cheaper in dollars for tariff purposes, without raising the end cost to the consumer.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lone Jack Police Chief Tim Cosner, who took the helm after the 2021 crash, declined to be interviewed about why the department’s policy changed.—
Bill Lukitsch,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2025
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North Little Rock police sought to charge Mary Lee Orsini with murder, but a grand jury declined to indict her -- and McArthur was credited with helping Orsini remain a free woman.—
Tony Holt,
Arkansas Online,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Banks couldn’t simply restore from backups because those records had also been corrupted.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Examples include divulging end users’ confidential contacts or emails and delivering falsified answers that have the potential to corrupt the integrity of important calculations.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The country has descended into violent disarray in the forthcoming thriller feature All the Lost Ones.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2025
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However, the meeting descends into a chaotic argument between Zelensky and Trump after Vice President JD Vance attacks Zelensky and suggests Ukraine should use diplomacy to end the war, accusing him of not wanting peace.—
Antoinette Radford,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As time went on, her pain diminished, but August decided to go to the emergency room.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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The VMAs, which have seen their social capital diminish over the past few years, delivered a promising ceremony in 2024.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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