deteriorate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
deteriorates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
deteriorated,
past participle, past
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deteriorating
present participle
-
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
- Synonyms:
- worsen, decline, degenerate
-
to disintegrate or wear away.
verb
-
to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate
-
(intr) to wear away or disintegrate
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
deterioratesimple
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deterioratessimple
-
have deterioratedperfect
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has deterioratedperfect
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am deterioratingprogressive
-
are deterioratingprogressive
-
is deterioratingprogressive
-
have been deterioratingperfect progressive
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has been deterioratingperfect progressive
Past
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deterioratedsimple
-
had deterioratedperfect
-
was deterioratingprogressive
-
were deterioratingprogressive
-
had been deterioratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deteriorate
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; cf. exterior, interior
Explanation
When something gets worse due to neglect or an unfortunate health problem, stuff starts to deteriorate — or fall apart. The word deteriorate describes anytime something gets worse. Due to neglect, a relationship can deteriorate but so can the American highway system. Sadly, there seems to be no end to applications for the word deteriorate. And, the truth is at a certain age we all start deteriorating too.
Vocabulary lists containing deteriorate
List 3
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Fidel Castro (1926-2016) Memorial List
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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.
See Examples For:
This is about how people express concern for young women whose bodies we’ve witnessed deteriorate on screen — and that they do at all.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
ANZ expects the first 25-basis-point rate hike to be delivered in December, though it could come sooner if economic conditions deteriorate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
"Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate as the day progresses, so these hours are being used to battle the flames," she said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Skeletal muscle often begins to deteriorate relatively early in the aging process.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Unfortunately,” says Hunt, Ngawang “did not continue to improve. By late morning he started to deteriorate again.”
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
One possibility is to protect adipose tissue before it deteriorates, preventing fat cells from disappearing and reducing the metabolic damage caused by the disease.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
They fear a surge in nationalism that has shielded the government from criticism could give way to discontent if the economy deteriorates further.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
Yet its penchant for letting borrowers pay interest on their loans with noncash IOUs could set the fund up for trouble if the lending environment deteriorates.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
He has also prepared a contingency exit plan if the situation deteriorates further.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
After death, the cadaver suddenly deteriorates: the internal organs, having been dead or partially dead for days, have already begun to dissolve, and a sort of shock-related meltdown occurs.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Jodie said she had felt alone during this time and her mental health had deteriorated, which meant she needed care from her young daughter.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Although his time with San Diego FC began in June 2024 with high expectations as the first designated player signed in the club’s history, the relationship between Lozano and the club deteriorated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The dispute comes as ties between Washington and Brasília have deteriorated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
But this morning the engine caught fire and the "vessel's integrity deteriorated very rapidly".
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Ebola virus destroyed an animal’s internal organs, and the carcass deteriorated abruptly after death.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Concerns about mental health deteriorating on these types of deployments are well-founded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
And Richard Blumenthal, another Democratic senator, said there were "widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns" on the ship.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Messi wrote that his father urged him "to play in one last World Cup" despite his health deteriorating.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Private-credit funds managed by Ares, Golub and KKR all reported increases this year in the number of borrowers on watch for deteriorating performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Knowing that my health was deteriorating every day took its toll on my mother.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
