deteriorate

[ dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing.

1. to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.

   Synonyms: worsen, decline, degenerate

2. to disintegrate or wear away.

deteriorate

/ dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate
2. intr to wear away or disintegrate

Derived Forms

• deˈteriorative, adjective
• deˌterioˈration, noun

Other Words From

• de·te·ri·o·ra·tive adjective
• un·de·te·ri·o·rat·ed adjective
• un·de·te·ri·o·ra·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deteriorate¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Late Latin dēteriōrātus “made worse,” past participle of dēteriōrāre “to make worse,” from Latin dēterior “worse,” from dē de- + -ter-, element in adjectives relating to spatial orientation + -ior, comparative suffix; exterior, interior

Word History and Origins

Origin of deteriorate¹

C16: from Late Latin dēteriōrāre, from Latin dēterior worse

Example Sentences

This is especially true for items that do not deteriorate on store shelves, such as bottled water and canned goods, which can be safe to consume for years past their labels if unopened and stored properly, said Teresa Murray, the consumer watchdog director of the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

“If you don’t fundamentally change your competitive condition as you look out two, three, four years, your financial condition will deteriorate. I’m losing more of our customers’ dollars to Costco and Walmart than to Kroger.”

From Salon

As we age, our cognitive and motor functions deteriorate, which in turn affects our independence and overall quality of life.

From Science Daily

Ties appeared to strenghten following a 2018 peace deal, only to deteriorate again.

From BBC

The court issued guidelines to regulate the use of crackers but Delhi's air continued to deteriorate.

From BBC

Related Words

• crumble
• decline
• degrade
• depreciate
• disintegrate
• ebb
• fade
• fail
• fall apart
• languish
• lessen
• lower
• regress
• sink
• slide
• undermine
• weaken
• worsen