deteriorate

[dih-teer-ee-uh-reyt]

verb (used with or without object)

deteriorated, deteriorating 

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

Other Word Forms

• deteriorative adjective
• undeteriorated adjective
• undeteriorative adjective
• deterioration noun

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

Moody’s Investors Service now rates the general outlook for higher-education bonds “negative,” while Fitch Ratings deems the sector “deteriorating.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Many have drained retirement savings, maxed out credit cards, or watched marriages and health deteriorate under the strain. “

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

Read more on BBC

"America must prepare to test nuclear weapons," the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation said in a report in January, referring to a "deteriorating security environment".

Read more on Barron's

"The situation in Pokrovsk is on the brink of crisis and continues to deteriorate, to the point where it may be too late to fix everything," the group concluded.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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