deteriorating

American

[dih-teer-ee-uh-rey-ting] / dɪˈtɪər i əˌreɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

undeteriorating

adjective

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.

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

Raman said Bass had failed to act with urgency on the production of new apartments, repairs to deteriorating infrastructure and the exodus of entertainment industry jobs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

“Households’ views on their personal financial situation, both past and future, are deteriorating once again,” the statistics agency said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

The six-to-12 month outlook for financial markets is deteriorating as inventories fall, inflation risks rise and higher capital costs become more relevant for the AI capital expenditure boom.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Ration card restrictions, abysmal puddings, the deteriorating quality of fingernail varnish—these are crimes they feel in their souls.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023