deteriorate
[ dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt ]
/ dɪˈtɪər i əˌreɪt /
verb (used with or without object), de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing.
to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.
to disintegrate or wear away.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
decline, sink, ebb, worsen, disintegrate, lessen, lower, crumble, undermine, regress, slide, degrade, fade, fail, languish, depreciate, weaken, retrogress, pervert, debilitate
Nearby words
detention home, deter, deterge, detergency, detergent, deteriorate, deterioration, determinable, determinacy, determinant, determinate
Origin of deteriorate
SYNONYMS FOR deteriorate
Related forms
de·te·ri·o·ra·tive, adjectiveun·de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, adjectiveun·de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, adjectiveun·de·te·ri·o·ra·tive, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for deteriorate
British Dictionary definitions for deteriorate
deteriorate
/ (dɪˈtɪərɪəˌreɪt) /
verb
to make or become worse or lower in quality, value, character, etc; depreciate
(intr) to wear away or disintegrate
Derived Forms
deterioration, noundeteriorative, adjectiveWord Origin for deteriorate
C16: from Late Latin dēteriōrāre, from Latin dēterior worse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for deteriorate
deteriorate
[ dĭ-tîr′ē-ə-rāt′ ]
v.
To grow worse in function or condition.
To weaken or disintegrate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.