- present participle of deteriorate.
deteriorating
Americanadjective
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becoming worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc..
A deteriorating house, whatever the cause, will have an adverse effect on your real estate investment.
Officials have warned of a deteriorating security situation in the disputed territory.
-
disintegrating or wearing away.
If what you have underneath is fabric or fiberglass, I’d be concerned that deteriorating paint is letting ultraviolet rays do their worst to your aircraft.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deteriorating
First recorded in 1680–90; deteriorate ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
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.
Vice President JD Vance, who had been expected to lead the U.S. delegation, also postponed his trip amid the deteriorating security situation.
From Salon • Jun. 19, 2026
In the mid-1990s, after a period of dwindling ratings and deteriorating cultural relevance, the WWF embarked on a radical brand pivot.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
“It’s simple. Brand momentum is fading, share losses are building, and sales per foot are deteriorating, driving sharp margin compression,” Jefferies analyst Randal Konik said in a research note on Friday.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
But it’s all we have now in an otherwise deteriorating situation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
The frigid winters and the dry desert like conditions of the tundra prevent metals, papers, garbage, and refuse from deteriorating as it does in warmer zones.
From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George
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.
