deteriorate

verb

de·​te·​ri·​o·​rate di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce deteriorate (audio)
dē-
deteriorated; deteriorating

transitive verb

1
: to make inferior in quality or value : impair
Exposure to sunlight may deteriorate the paint.
2

intransitive verb

: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
allowed a tradition of academic excellence to deteriorate
his health deteriorated
deteriorative adjective

Examples of deteriorate in a Sentence

efforts to save a deteriorating rain forest Exposure to rain and sun will gradually deteriorate the paint.
Recent Examples on the Web Housing prices have skyrocketed as the country has focused on tourism, and public health services have deteriorated. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 The two-time Oscar winner captures Garland in showstopper mode and, with spine curved and cigarette in hand, deftly communicates Garland's deteriorating state and the toll of her struggles with addiction. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The blizzard is already bringing 100- to 110-mph gusts at the highest elevations, with conditions expected to deteriorate dramatically by Friday night. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Road conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly in the Sierra. Nicholas Merianos, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, these early clocks were lousy timekeepers, their ability to keep time deteriorating along with the battery. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Feb. 2024 Reales Dominguez, whose mental health had deteriorated in the months before the knife attacks, was found unfit to stand trial and was briefly committed to a state hospital to regain competency. Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2024 But over the past 15 years, property maintenance deteriorated due to a decline in revenue that spiraled downward as more and more residents moved away. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2024 Conditions will begin to deteriorate quickly in the mountains this afternoon, with high winds and heavy snow causing white out conditions at times. Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deteriorate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin deterioratus, past participle of deteriorare, from Latin deterior worse, from de- + -ter (suffix as in Latin uter which of two) + -ior (comparative suffix) — more at whether entry 2, -er

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deteriorate was in 1572

Dictionary Entries Near deteriorate

Cite this Entry

“Deteriorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deteriorate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deteriorate

verb
de·​te·​ri·​o·​rate di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce deteriorate (audio)
deteriorated; deteriorating
1
: to make or become worse or of less value : degenerate
2
deterioration
-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈrā-shən
noun
deteriorative adjective

Medical Definition

deteriorate

intransitive verb
de·​te·​ri·​o·​rate di-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce deteriorate (audio)
deteriorated; deteriorating
: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition : degenerate
her health deteriorated
deteriorating vision

More from Merriam-Webster on deteriorate

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