deteriorate
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
has deteriorated
-
present perfectof deteriorate (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
His wife Teresa, 79, said she was prepared to care for him at home with some help, but his discharge from hospital was delayed and his health has deteriorated.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Washington’s willingness to maintain freedom of the seas, unilaterally or with allies, has deteriorated in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Sue's condition has deteriorated so much that she now lives in a home.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Gao has chronic lumbar spine disease and arthritis, and his health has deteriorated in custody, his brother said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
The situation at Santo Tomas has deteriorated at an alarming rate in the three years since Gertie’s capture.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
