deteriorate
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
is deteriorating
-
present progressiveof deteriorate (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate 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.
“The result is deteriorating public health, increased lawlessness and a bleak environment for small businesses.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Some retirees get to a point where their health is deteriorating or they are reaching very advanced ages and they can more clearly see what will be left after they die.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
In a sign of how quickly the long-term outlook is deteriorating, that figure increased by nearly $7 trillion in just the past year.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
Investors are becoming increasingly nervous about problems mounting in the $3 trillion private credit market where some creditworthiness is deteriorating in some sectors and truthful valuations are hard to ascertain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
I learned so much so fast, and now my mind is deteriorating rapidly.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
