deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt 
dē-
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make inferior in quality or value : impair
Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.
2
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate
his health deteriorated
Synonyms
Examples of deteriorate in a Sentence
efforts to save a deteriorating rain forest
Exposure to rain and sun will gradually deteriorate the paint.
Recent Examples on the Web
Relations deteriorated even further by 1729 after Etienne de Périer, the governor of French Louisiana, appointed a man known as Commandant de Chépart to lead Fort Rosalie.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2024
Since then, though, communication has deteriorated, with those close to Prince Harry saying the monarch no longer takes his younger son’s calls and doesn’t respond to his letters, either.
—Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
Although the city reached a settlement and consent decree in October 2015, the judge noted that jail conditions have deteriorated significantly over the past decade.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Over the years Hampden’s holiday spirit has not shown any sign of deteriorating.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
deteriorate
verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make or become worse or of less value : degenerate
deterioration
noun
-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən
Medical Definition
deteriorate
intransitive verb
de·te·ri·o·rate
di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt
deteriorated; deteriorating
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
her health deteriorated
deteriorating vision
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