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
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
Read: The chaos in higher ed is only getting started
The situation could deteriorate if current doctoral students start jumping ship.
—
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
So organs deteriorate while doctor after doctor rejects them.
—Brian M. Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Nearby, at the corner of Jefferson and Washington streets, a deteriorating, 1920s apartment building is slated to be incorporated into an $80 million medical office building.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2025
The alternative is a slow and painful death for the denizens of our fair city, one in which taxes steadily escalate while services continually deteriorate.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
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Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
So organs deteriorate while doctor after doctor rejects them.
—Brian M. Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Nearby, at the corner of Jefferson and Washington streets, a deteriorating, 1920s apartment building is slated to be incorporated into an $80 million medical office building.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2025
The alternative is a slow and painful death for the denizens of our fair city, one in which taxes steadily escalate while services continually deteriorate.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deteriorate
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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