deteriorate

[dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt] / dɪˈtɪər i əˌreɪt /

VERB

decay, degenerate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crumble decline degrade depreciate disintegrate ebb fade fail fall apart languish lessen lower regress sink slide undermine weaken worsen

STRONG

adulterate alloy break corrode corrupt debase debilitate decompose deprave descend flag impair injure lapse mar pervert retrograde retrogress rot skid spoil vitiate

WEAK

be worse for wear become worse disimprove go downhill go to pieces go to pot go to the dogs hit the skids lose it lose quality wear away

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve compliment elevate grow improve increase laud praise raise rise strengthen

STRONG

aid assist build clean cleanse clear cure fix heal help join mend purify put together

WEAK

construct develop get better

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The consensus-beating performance comes as the online retailer has seen its bottom line deteriorate since it entered China’s highly competitive food-delivery market in early 2025, taking on the likes of Meituan and Alibaba Group.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Steven Conners, president of Conners Wealth Management in Scottsdale, Ariz., calls the State Street fund “a nice hedge should the economy deteriorate from the higher GDP levels we have seen recently.”

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

"We lived near the Wye for 20 years, and saw it deteriorate, but we didn't imagine that river pollution would affect us so much."

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

The U.S. stock market’s prospects continue to deteriorate, according to the gold-platinum ratio — a relatively obscure indicator with an impressive track record predicting the stock market’s 12-month return.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Nana’s doctors believe her memory will continue to deteriorate.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Vocabulary lists containing deteriorate

List 3

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