Definitions

deteriorating

[dih-teer-ee-uh-rey-ting] / dɪˈtɪər i əˌreɪ tɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

crumbly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

powdery soft

WEAK

breakable corroded crisp crunchy decayed degenerated deteriorated disintegrated eroded fragile frail frangible friable oxidized perishing pulverizable rotted rotten rusted shivery short worn

Antonyms

WEAK

flexible pliable

ADJECTIVE

decaying

Synonyms

STRONGEST

collapsing crumbling

STRONG

decomposing disintegrating eroding oxidizing rusting spoiling

WEAK

breaking down breaking up falling to pieces in ruins wasting away wearing away

ADJECTIVE

retrograde

Synonyms

STRONG

declining inverted lapsing receding reversed sinking slipping worsening

WEAK

backward catabolic contrary inverse

Antonyms

WEAK

forward positive

ADJECTIVE

scrubby

Synonyms

WEAK

all the worse for wear bare bedraggled broken-down crummy cure decayed decaying decrepit degenerated desolate deteriorated dilapidated dingy disfigured disreputable dog-eared down-at-heel faded frayed gone to seed mangy meager mean miserable moth-eaten neglected pitiful poor pot poverty-stricken ragged ramshackle ratty rickety ruined ruinous run down rundown scruffy seedy shoddy sleazy slipshod squalid tacky tattered tatty threadbare tired worn worn-out worse for wear wretched

ADJECTIVE

shabby

Synonyms

STRONGEST

crummy decaying decrepit desolate dilapidated dingy pitiful ramshackle ratty rickety run down scruffy seedy shoddy squalid tacky tattered threadbare worn

WEAK

bare bedraggled decayed degenerated deteriorated disfigured disreputable dog-eared faded frayed gone to seed mangy meager mean miserable moth-eaten neglected poor poverty-stricken ragged ruined ruinous scrubby sleazy slipshod tired worn-out worse for wear wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clean fresh good happy healthy new nice stable unused

WEAK

honorable respectable

ADJECTIVE

tatty

Synonyms

WEAK

all the worse for wear bare bedraggled broken-down crummy cure decayed decaying decrepit degenerated desolate deteriorated dilapidated dingy disfigured disreputable dog-eared down-at-heel faded frayed gone to seed mangy meager mean miserable moth-eaten neglected pitiful poor pot poverty-stricken ragged ramshackle ratty rickety ruined ruinous run down rundown scrubby scruffy seedy shoddy sleazy slipshod squalid tacky tattered threadbare tired worn worn-out worse for wear wretched

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.

It’s also a terrible, deteriorating market for auto makers, and the country isn’t only exporting its vehicles, it’s exporting its disastrous market dynamics.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

The average S&P 500 company has seen sales estimates increase 2.6% this year, so identifying companies that are roughly in step with or better than the average increases the likelihood of avoiding truly deteriorating businesses.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

More than a dozen neighborhoods in the capital city of Havana erupted in protests Wednesday night, with residents banging pots and burning garbage amid rising anger over dayslong blackouts and deteriorating living conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

"It's not only a reaction of France to the deteriorating relationship with some countries in West Africa," he told Newsday.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Yanking the laces tight made me wince in pain; for the past two weeks the condition of my cracked, bleeding fingertips had been steadily deteriorating in the cold air.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

deteriorating

Example Sentences

Related Words