1
as in to worsen
to become worse or of less value
the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
By contrast, folks with traditional dementia can deteriorate quite quickly.
—
Brittany Risher, SELF, 11 Apr. 2025
After more than a century at the bottom of the North Atlantic, the Titanic has deteriorated.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Garland’s script tests their camaraderie as relations rapidly deteriorate in the face of bright, glowing doom.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Officials fear patient care will deteriorate Legendary ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band with CT ties gets its due in documentary airing on public TV
New pharmacy opens in CT.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Brittany Risher, SELF, 11 Apr. 2025
After more than a century at the bottom of the North Atlantic, the Titanic has deteriorated.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Garland’s script tests their camaraderie as relations rapidly deteriorate in the face of bright, glowing doom.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Officials fear patient care will deteriorate Legendary ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band with CT ties gets its due in documentary airing on public TV
New pharmacy opens in CT.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 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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Government lawyers argue that Meta's services have degraded in quality in part because of its dominant position in the marketplace.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
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According to the National Institutes of Health, ALS progressively degrades, then kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The pitching staff began to crumble beneath a lack of reliable depth.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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Both gentlemen were trying to win their first Green Jacket. DeChambeau crumbled while McIlroy had a rollercoaster kind of day, prevailing to win The Masters and complete the career grand slam.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.—
Julia Angwin,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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County officials declined to comment on the civil lawsuit.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The hospital declined to say whether Ikner was one of their patients.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Stuart Miller, Boynton Beach Seven memorable words Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2025
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The show followed an ensemble of one-percenters at the titular resort in Hawaii, observing how their privilege blinds them to reality and corrupts everyone around them, leading to conflicts, cruelty, and, eventually, violence.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Her friend Alice is descending a dimly lit stairway.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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In an era when political discourse so often descends into outrage and division — on cable news, in Congress, even in school board races — the quiet decency shown in Skokie feels all the more remarkable.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The previous six champions were all diminished the following season by either injuries or significant roster changes.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Lacy turned himself in to police on Jan. 12, but his NFL Draft prospects were significantly diminished by the wreck.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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