deteriorate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
-
deteriorates,
present (3rd person singular)
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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
"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
Evans said the city centre was at a "tipping point" and would "continue to deteriorate" without decisive action.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Because the structure is known to deteriorate during aging and neurodegenerative disease, its breakdown could push neurons into a damaging cycle involving greater amyloid production, further structural weakening, and eventual cell death.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
Unless we somehow acquired some more gas or descended to a lower camp, I knew that my teammates and I would continue to deteriorate rapidly.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
But he also said that "if the situation really deteriorates and shipping were to come to a standstill, we could not rule out an impact on our results".
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
The results suggest that progression in chronic blood cancers may be biologically 'encoded' years before a patient's condition visibly deteriorates.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
As Joe's mental state deteriorates and he becomes more exposed and child-like, the camera was physically moved closer to Larkin using longer lenses.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
And so the AI economy will continue to improve while the broader economy deteriorates.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 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
Their performance deteriorated, with errors in altitude, heading and radio navigation.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Most strikingly, the pilots did not realise that their performance had deteriorated, the study found.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
US media, including specialist military publications, have quoted multiple relatives of crew members saying living conditions have deteriorated on the Abraham Lincoln.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 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
After the usual histrionics about the deteriorated state of my beauty, they get right down to business.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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
Lawmakers raised concerns about living conditions and deteriorating mental health aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its extended deployment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● 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
The photo-cell banks were deteriorating more rapidly than had seemed likely.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
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.
