Definitions

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.

That owes largely to the difficulty of preserving and projecting it, as it has a tendency to deteriorate and/or go up in flames.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

No, argue strategists at JPMorgan, who offer this chart showing that net equity issuance will only modestly deteriorate due to a wave of stock buybacks.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

It expected the situation "to deteriorate further" and "become unmanageable" as passenger volumes increased towards the summer peak.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

While convenient, these warmer conditions speed up respiration and ripening, causing fruit to soften and deteriorate more rapidly.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2026

Maybe when you deteriorate back down the ladder of evolution as I have, when you sink into the tomb world slough of being a special—well, best to abandon that line of inquiry.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Vocabulary lists containing deteriorate

List 3

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30 GRE Words Beginning with "D"

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Fidel Castro (1926-2016) Memorial List

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