DETERIORATE Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

deteriorate

verb

di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt

Definition of deteriorate

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

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

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 deteriorate Nowhere is that more consequential than in the United States, where support for Israel has deteriorated, particularly among younger Americans. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 If the unrest continues, confidence deteriorates further or market tensions intensify, growth could be even weaker. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 The referendum would authorize Miami to issue $450 million in general obligation bonds to repair or replace deteriorating police and fire-rescue facilities, including construction of a new public safety building near Miami Freedom Park. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 Unfortunately at the beginning of August 2024, Bobby’s condition quickly deteriorated. — Stat Staff, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deteriorate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorate

Verb

Rights groups and activists say repression has worsened in the period since.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
In Spanish cities, a housing supply shortage has worsened thanks to population growth driven by immigration and a proliferation of short-term rentals.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of worsen

Verb

At rates faster than the cap, the internet degrades and is no longer usable.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Living with neck and back pain from stress, tension, poor posture and other causes can seriously degrade your quality of life, but Therabody's latest innovation can help.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

As ocean levels rise, waves crash farther inland and the coast continues to crumble, Southern California is on track to lose 30 to 70% of its beaches over the next several decades.

— Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Jarman pointed out, rightly, that in the 1630s, the walls wouldn’t have been crumbling at all.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of crumble

Verb

Conditions were expected to improve Saturday afternoon as winds weakened, with fair and dry weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
As trust in America weakens further, other wealthy nations will make the same calculation.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Central bank holdings at the New York Fed declined 40 tonnes in August, Goldman added, while holdings at the Bank of England rose 46 tonnes.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
For this story, however, the district declined to comment due to Ortiz’s lawsuit, which is ongoing.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

The original 1971 experiment was conducted by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, who arbitrarily split volunteers into two groups—inmates and guards—and observed how power corrupted them.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Rousseau argued that societies were happiest before agriculture and metal production corrupted them.

— Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Verb

National reporters, big GOP donors and the president himself have descended on Kansas as Republicans seek to stave off Hamilton’s challenge.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
While descending, deputies said the climber ran into trouble after following an erroneous GPS route that led him onto the Whitney Glacier.

— Tim Fang, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

Members of Congress could be expected to resist presidential encroachments because those encroachments diminished their own power.

— Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
In theory, such an arrangement diminishes the cells’ ability to transport oxygen from the lungs.

— D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminish

Browse Nearby Words

deterging

deteriorate

deteriorated

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorate. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deteriorate

verb

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