deteriorate
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
had deteriorated
-
past perfectof deteriorate.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
The tissue samples maintained much of their total collagen content and surface coverage, even after the coherence of their supramolecular chirality had deteriorated substantially.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
The Bureau of the Royal Household said in May that her health condition had deteriorated and she was relying on medical devices to support her lung and kidney functions, as well as medication.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
By the following summer, his health had deteriorated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Baschek said the whale's breathing and reaction to rescuers had deteriorated, and that the chances of coaxing him out of the bay were so slim it would be cruel to try.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026
Ernest’s health had deteriorated toward the end of the war and grown even worse after the armistice.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
