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.

When oxygen levels fall, river health can deteriorate, putting fish and other freshwater species at risk.

From Science Daily • May 17, 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

Assuming conditions don’t deteriorate further, “these supply responses reinforce our conviction of a broad-based recovery in upstream markets in 2027 and 2028,” Le Peuch said.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Arab mediators working to restart talks between the two sides said they feared the situation would deteriorate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

But the situation with law enforcement continued to deteriorate.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Vocabulary lists containing deteriorate

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