ATROPHIES Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

atrophies

verb

present tense third-person singular of atrophy

as in deteriorates

to become worse or of less value in the years following the closing of the last textile mill, the town atrophied

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of atrophies The hippocampus is primarily responsible for memory and learning, and commonly shrinks, or atrophies, after a stroke. — New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025 Marcus Pettersson Pettersson’s form, as is typical for most non-play driving defensive defencemen as the health of a wider two-way environment atrophies, has looked poor for long stretches of this season. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026 Otherwise the ability to work independently atrophies. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 But if American political life continues to become coarser and more corrupt, and its hard power is repeatedly misused while its soft power atrophies, keeping those two things separate is going to be a lot more difficult. — Stephen M. Walt, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atrophies

Verb

The delivery was a glimmer of good news in a living situation that deteriorates by the day.

— Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026

Definition of deteriorates

Verb

Once the finish is damaged, stains cling more easily, leading people to scrub even harder, which worsens the problem.

— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
From Montesquieu’s perspective, polarization worsens this appetite for disregarding constitutional norms.

— Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Definition of worsens

Verb

This is the leader who descends into the weeds, confirming every detail, not because the situation demands it but because something inside needs reassurance.

— Karyn Gallant, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of descends

Verb

Many international students pay full tuition, turning them an increasingly important source of revenue as domestic enrollment declines.

— Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Alan Jackson declines comment With that, the judge left the bench, taking no comment or questions from the lawyers present.

— Kristina Rex, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of declines

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atrophied

atrophies

atrophy

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“Atrophies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atrophies. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of atrophies

verb

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