1
as in worsens
to become worse or of less value
the garden slowly deteriorated after months of neglect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in degrades
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
childish name-calling that merely deteriorates what should be a serious discussion on an important issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deteriorates
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.
—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2026
Another six months of war and the negotiating position deteriorates.
—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Meetings grow tense, and communication deteriorates.
—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
There’s less maintenance and less investment in them, so the individual property deteriorates.
—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
When the foliage deteriorates in hot summer weather, cut back the foliage.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Accuracy also deteriorates when people are wearing heavy makeup and for young children and old people because their landmark features tend to change more quickly than adults of other ages.
—
Vijayan Asari,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the neo-noir psychological drama follows De Niro as a taxi driver whose mental state deteriorates while working night shifts in New York City.
—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 May 2026
That is why a hedge here makes sense while markets sit near highs, VIX remains compressed near the high teens, and investors are still leaning heavily into a handful of leadership names as the macro backdrop deteriorates.
—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2026
Another six months of war and the negotiating position deteriorates.
—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Meetings grow tense, and communication deteriorates.
—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
There’s less maintenance and less investment in them, so the individual property deteriorates.
—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
When the foliage deteriorates in hot summer weather, cut back the foliage.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Accuracy also deteriorates when people are wearing heavy makeup and for young children and old people because their landmark features tend to change more quickly than adults of other ages.
—
Vijayan Asari,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the neo-noir psychological drama follows De Niro as a taxi driver whose mental state deteriorates while working night shifts in New York City.
—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 May 2026
That is why a hedge here makes sense while markets sit near highs, VIX remains compressed near the high teens, and investors are still leaning heavily into a handful of leadership names as the macro backdrop deteriorates.
—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deteriorates
Verb
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The condition also worsens over time.
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Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that worsens over time and occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, according to Mayo Clinic.
Verb
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Those with respiratory problems and sensitive groups could experience issues as our air quality degrades a bit with the dust lingering overhead.
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Trump, on the other hand, belittles and degrades people every day.
Verb
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That is the moment that everything crumbles for Rachel.
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Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.
Verb
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When foreign investors pull money out of the country, demand for the rupiah drops, and the currency weakens.
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Every interaction either builds confidence or weakens it.
Verb
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The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.
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When a bartender goes missing, Ohm descends into both his own history and that of this Overlook Hotel–esque setting in a film that verifies the suspicion that McCarthy is one of the best genre directors currently working.
Verb
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Forgetting his bond with the land, Mariano awakens the Ch’iqmi, a dark force that corrupts his people.
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One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.
Verb
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Economists have warned that the revenue bump is potentially temporary and analysts say the growth in state spending could leave California in a challenging position if the economy declines.
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For Markiplier, the last few months have been a study in what happens when a creator with 36 million subscribers walks through Hollywood’s front door and declines to become its creature.
Verb
-
Diomande just humiliates fullbacks.
-
Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.
Cite this Entry
“Deteriorates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deteriorates. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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