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
Shady fintech companies would have less to worry about, lending standards could deteriorate, consumers experiencing fraud would not have a clear way to seek help from the federal government, and so on.
—
Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2025
Despite participating in a clinical trial for a study drug aimed at slowing PKD progression, Christensen’s condition deteriorated over the years.
—Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
That the Giants have gone 28-55-1 in the five seasons since Manning’s retirement should put in perspective how much the roster had deteriorated around the quarterback late in his career.
—Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025
Her famous voice deteriorated through the years due to cocaine use, The New York Times reported.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deteriorate 
Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2025
Despite participating in a clinical trial for a study drug aimed at slowing PKD progression, Christensen’s condition deteriorated over the years.
—Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
That the Giants have gone 28-55-1 in the five seasons since Manning’s retirement should put in perspective how much the roster had deteriorated around the quarterback late in his career.
—Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025
Her famous voice deteriorated through the years due to cocaine use, The New York Times reported.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deteriorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate
Verb
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There is a real risk that cartels can fill the vacuum and worsen the mass migration in the region.—
MaryAlice Parks,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2025
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Resting the muscle by avoiding activities that aggravate the muscle injury and worsen the pain gives the muscle time to heal.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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To strip her name from her and contort it into a term that is most often used to degrade artists who look like her is simply dehumanizing.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
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Topaz Labs View 1 Images Topaz Labs, which makes powerful photo and video enhancement software, just showed off a new AI model that automatically enhances old footage, from your home video collection to archival content that may have degraded over time on traditional media.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The show from Sister and Universal International Studios is set in a near-future Margate, against a backdrop of soaring inequality, as Chance discovers life and love while being forced to fight for her family and friends’ survival in a world that’s crumbling around her.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
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Typically under him, Newcastle are not a team that crumbles after conceding.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the bond market, Treasury yields fell after a report said sales at U.S. retailers weakened by much more last month than economists expected.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
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His executive order, unless reversed by the courts, will encourage greater corruption in Latin America, hurting the region’s economies, weakening democratic institutions and making countries poorer.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The average home price in the six-county region declined 0.4% from December to $862,115 in January, according to Zillow, marking the sixth consecutive month of declines.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Another recent poll shows declining confidence, specifically in Republican individuals, in health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Moreover, much of the Republican Party now embraces the idea that America’s institutions—from the federal bureaucracy and public schools to the media and private universities—have been corrupted by left-wing ideologies.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
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Putin believes in authoritarianism, in a strong Russian state, in the rehabilitation of the country’s Soviet past, and in a Russian civilization that is superior to a West corrupted by secularism and individualism.—
Rich Lowry,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Witnesses said they were caught off-guard by the agents descending on their homes and that many hid in their apartments, afraid federal agents would barge in.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC News,
6 Feb. 2025
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The night of Charlotte FC’s inaugural home match — March 5, 2022 — when over 74,000 people descended on Bank of America Stadium and made for one of the most special nights in the city’s sports history.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Although his output had diminished, from an availability and form perspective, Villa valued him higher than Douglas Luiz or Diaby and with greater scope for improvement.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
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This has less to do with a diminishing talent pool than a changing industry where the lines between Corman’s world and Hollywood at large became more sharply drawn.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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