deteriorate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
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
- deterioration noun
- deteriorative adjective
- undeteriorated adjective
- undeteriorative adjective
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; exterior, interior
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.
On 16 August, another drug was given to Rochester "which was in line with the hospital guidelines" but she deteriorated and was admitted to intensive care on 17 August.
From BBC
In 2025, they approached the Supreme Court again, saying that their son's condition had deteriorated and that he was being kept alive "artificially" through life support machines.
From BBC
Unable to sleep after a traumatic birth in 2024, Lizzy quickly deteriorated into a state of psychosis - a potentially life-threatening condition that can cause hallucinations, severe insomnia and paranoia.
From BBC
If one deteriorates, the other is almost certain to do so as well, with deleterious consequences.
From Barron's
If one deteriorates, the other is almost certain to do so as well, with deleterious consequences.
From Barron's
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.
