deteriorates

verb

present tense third-person singular of deteriorate
1
as in worsens
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 degrades
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 deteriorates As her brother Aldwin’s mental health deteriorates, Lil considers risking her future to travel to him. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Keep the effort easy enough that your movement quality improves rather than deteriorates. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026 Each function can hit its KPI while the overall customer or commercial outcome deteriorates. — Sumit Srivastava, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Cuba has experienced frequent and prolonged blackouts as its aging power infrastructure deteriorates and the country struggles with severe fuel shortages. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026 Authorities expect that 10% to 15% of remaining residents might leave for the winter months, Tolokonnikov added, perhaps more if the situation deteriorates further. — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026 Production volumes may remain high over a short period, even as supply security deteriorates. — Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 As the charging system deteriorates, electronic features may stop working properly. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Viewers may scan a QR code for their own copy of the audio track, which deteriorates in sound quality with every download. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorates
  1. worsens
  2. degrades
  3. crumbles
  4. weakens
  5. descends
  6. corrupts
  7. declines
  8. humiliates
Verb
  • French bond turmoil worsens French social and political volatility is compounded by an emerging fiscal crisis, which on Thursday pushed its benchmark government borrowing cost to a fresh 24-year high.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • This yearly bottleneck worsens as changing fee structures make costs hard to predict.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsens
Verb
  • At rates exceeding the cap, the internet degrades and is no longer usable.
    — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • My observations have been that when human capital is treated as a purely algorithmic input, workplace culture degrades and strategic talent development stops.
    — Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of degrades
Verb
  • When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumbles
Verb
  • Limited inventory continues to support prices, even as buyer demand weakens.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • If the ridge weakens sufficiently, this could eventually open the door to returning rain chances.
    — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • As evening descends on Paris, there are ominous signs for what lies ahead tonight.
    — Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The visuals are too murky even to provide a nasty thrill when a pod of orcas descends on Jay’s gargantuan host.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of descends
Verb
  • Forgetting his bond with the land, Mariano awakens the Ch’iqmi, a dark force that corrupts his people.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 25 June 2026
  • One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of corrupts
Verb
  • The Salt Lake County clerk requests assistance to secure the polls, but the sheriff, unsure about jurisdiction, declines.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Steep declines across the tech space, led by Meta and the chip sector, saw Nasdaq log its worst day since June.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of declines
Verb
  • Filming a scene in which Isaiah humiliates Cam, Withers asked Wayans to crack jokes about Kionte’s death — the defining event of Withers’ life, and his lowest point.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Definition of humiliates

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Cite this Entry

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

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